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
Ceratocystis paradoxa the plant. If the pathogen infects the plant while fruits are still on it, they will prematurely drop. Other symptoms include discoloration of leaves as well as the seeds. The lesions on the fruit evolve to become soft rot spots that produce a heinous odor. The fruit can even get to the point of breakdown. Known Hosts: "Ananas comosus" (pineapple) "Araceae" "Areca catechu" (betelnut palm) "Borassus flabellifer" (toddy palm) "Butia capitata" "Cocos nucifera" (coconut) "Coffea" (coffee) "Daucus carota" (carrot) "Dypsis decaryi" "Elaeis guineensis" (African oil palm) "Eucalyptus" "Howea forsteriana" (paradise palm) "Mangifera indica" (mango) "Musa x paradisiaca" (plantain) "Phoenix dactylifera"