In the outline of Portugal’s scenery there is a long-lost past and an uncertain future. Captured forever in the black-and-white memory of old photographs, we can find many healthy-looking specimens of palm trees, which used to be a rich element in the botanical heritage of the capital. Many of these have since fallen victim to town planning, while others, of course, will have met a natural end.
The real disaster, however, began in 2007 with the detection of an infestation of palm weevils, which had already decimated numerous Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis), some of them centuries old. The weevil is insatiable and has already been detected in date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) and fan palms (Washingtonia filifera and Washingtonia robusta), among others.
What does the future hold for these species?
Washingtonia robusta and Syagrus romanzoffiana
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
1920s-1940s
Phoenix dactylifera (date palm)
Largo do Barão de Quintela
1950s
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm), Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) and Washingtonia sp (fan palm)
Panoramic view over the Tejo River
1950s
Jubaea chilensis (Chilean wine palm), Brahea armata (Mexican blue palm), Washingtonia filifera (fan palm) and Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese windmill palm)
Palácio Fronteira Garden
1911
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm)
Estrela Garden
Phoenix dactylifera (date palm)
Largo do Barão de Quintela
1965
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm)
Largo das Palmeiras
1961
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm), Washingtonia robusta (fan palm)
Lisbon Botanical Garden
1911
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm), Washingtonia sp (fan palm), Brahea armata (Mexican blue palm)
Nuno Álvares Garden (Santos)
190-?
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm)
Nuno Álvares Garden (Santos)
1911
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm)
Tropical Botanical Garden
1911
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm)
Campo Grande Garden
Washingtonia robusta (fan palm), Washingtonia filifera (fan palm)
Lisbon Botanical Garden
between entre 1890 e 192-?
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm)
Campo Grande Garden
1960
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm)
Avenida da Liberdade
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm), Washingtonia robusta (fan palm)
Lisbon Botanical Garden
All photos courtesy of Lisbon Municipal Archive.