Phoenix (plant) hybridisation and cross-pollination. Several natural hybrids were hence obtained: "P. dactylifera X. P. sylvestris "(India)," P. dactylifera × P. canariensis" (Morocco, Algeria and Israel), and " P. dactylifera × P. reclinata "(Senegal). "Phoenix" species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including "Paysandisia archon" and the "Batrachedra" species "B. amydraula" (recorded on "P. dactylifera"), "B. arenosella" and "B. isochtha" (feeds exclusively on "Phoenix" spp.). The fruit of "P. dactylifera", the date of commerce, is large with a thick layer of fruit pulp, edible, very sweet and rich in sugar; the other species have only a
Niebla dactylifera Niebla dactylifera Niebla dactylifera is a fruticose lichen that grows only on San Nicolas Island in the Channel Islands of California. The epithet, "dactylifera", is in reference to the terminal finger-like branches. "Niebla dactylifera" is recognized by the thallus divided into tubular-prismatic branches that arise from a thick basal attachment area; the branches, which are not more than 3.0 cm high, become widened above similar to the palm of a hand from which develop many shorter finger like branches. The cortex is not more than 75 µm thick, in contrast to that of "Niebla dissecta", 75–110 µm thick, a similar