Medemia argun

This palm was first described by archaeologist Kunth in Egypt in 1826. They found 2500 year old seeds in old Egyptian tombs. The palm was only discovered fifty years later in the Nubian desert in northern Sudan. In Egypt the palm was thought to be extinct until in 1995 less then 10 adult trees were found. In North Sudan the populations are larger however it remains an extremely rare palm species. The habitat looks very dry and arid and it seems that nothing can survive here, however this palm only grows in oasis where groundwater is always close. It is a beautiful palm with silver leaves. An adult palm has some similarities with Bismarckia. It tolerates only light frosts.