Phoenix theophrasti ancient Greek ‘father of botany,’ had described several types of palms, including one from Crete. Apart from the usually inedible dates and upright fruit clusters, the Cretan species can appear quite similar to the cultivated date ("Phoenix dactylifera"). "Phoenix theophrasti" grows up to 15 m tall, usually with several slender stems. The leaves are pinnate, 2–3 m long, with numerous rigid greyish-green linear leaflets 15–50 cm long on each side of the central rachis. Dead leaves are marcescent, remaining attached to the stem for years after withering. The fruit is an oval yellowish-brown drupe 1.5 cm long and 1 cm
Texas phoenix palm decline Texas phoenix palm decline Texas Phoenix palm decline is a plant disease caused by a phytoplasma, "Candidatus" Phytoplasma palmae. It takes its name from the state it was first identified in and the palm species, "Phoenix", upon which it was first identified. It is currently found in parts of Florida and Texas. The TPPD strain is classified as group 16SrIV, subgroup D (16SrIV-D) and LY:16SrIV-A. Several palms susceptible to the phytoplasma have been documented, including: "Phoenix canariensis", "Phoenix dactylifera", "Phoenix sylvestris", "Phoenix reclinata", "Sabal palmetto", and "Syagrus romanzoffiana". Prior to 2006, lethal yellowing was the only other strain of phytoplasma