10-01-2007, 09:20 AM
I now officially hate these palms and never want to own one again. We had maybe 25 mature specimens on our Hilo property, and for them to look good the dead fronds needed trimming, which usually led to some form of impalement by the vicious thorns -- most times just a little owie and blood in foot or hand, but this one time ...
Last year, while trimming, I guess I was tired because on the last frond I planned to take out I lost control of it and it fell on me and a thorn impaled into my thumb joint and a miniscule fragment broke off -- although I couldn't see anything there and didn't realize it had happened.
It seemed OK, hurt at the moment but barely bled.
Ten days later I developed a raging stiffness/ infection where the whole thumb swelled up ... antibiotics, ultrasounds, and in the end had to go to Oahu to have surgery (with full general anesthesia) to get it out. My thumb is arthritic now from the trauma and I still get pain there. I lost the use of my left hand for two months during the worst of it.
in the process of helping my doctor figure out the mystery of why my thumb swelled up, I googled phoenix roebelenii and infection and toxin. There is a fair amount of medical literature about staph from these thorms and they have a known propensity for breaking off when sticking people. There are knee injuries that have required multiple surgeries.
To me their presence in the landscape doesn't outweigh the PITA factor of the thorns.
You will probably still plant them, but I posted this so people would be aware of the possible consequences of being casual with their grooming. Respect those thorns!
The fruit is just red berries, which are pretty enough but then turn black and fall and make sprouts everywhere.
Last year, while trimming, I guess I was tired because on the last frond I planned to take out I lost control of it and it fell on me and a thorn impaled into my thumb joint and a miniscule fragment broke off -- although I couldn't see anything there and didn't realize it had happened.
It seemed OK, hurt at the moment but barely bled.
Ten days later I developed a raging stiffness/ infection where the whole thumb swelled up ... antibiotics, ultrasounds, and in the end had to go to Oahu to have surgery (with full general anesthesia) to get it out. My thumb is arthritic now from the trauma and I still get pain there. I lost the use of my left hand for two months during the worst of it.
in the process of helping my doctor figure out the mystery of why my thumb swelled up, I googled phoenix roebelenii and infection and toxin. There is a fair amount of medical literature about staph from these thorms and they have a known propensity for breaking off when sticking people. There are knee injuries that have required multiple surgeries.
To me their presence in the landscape doesn't outweigh the PITA factor of the thorns.
You will probably still plant them, but I posted this so people would be aware of the possible consequences of being casual with their grooming. Respect those thorns!
The fruit is just red berries, which are pretty enough but then turn black and fall and make sprouts everywhere.