Two species of tall palm trees, single stems, clothed in a dense skirt of old leaves. Leaves terminal, large, outspreading, pleated, segments with filaments along the margins, petiole long, tough. Native to southwest USA and northern Mexico.
Washingtonia: apparently after George Washington (1732-1799), first President of the United States.
Pronunciation:
wosh-ing-to-NEE-a
Family:
Arecaceae (Palmae)