Mediterranean Dwarf Palm

It is the only palm that grows spontaneously on the coasts of the Western Mediterranean part, the Mediterranean maquisIts name derives from two Greek terms:
'khamai' (>lat. 'chamae'), small, dwarf, bowed down, and from 'rhops', shrub, bush referring to its shape.
The specific epithet from lat. 'humilis, -is, -e' (<'humus'),
It has played an important role: before introducing grain, the dwarf palm represented the main food source for the population of the Island. Its leaves were represented on antique coins in form of a fan.
On the Island witches, who appeared at noon, were hunted by cutting off three palm leaves with steel scissors and reciting a spell at the same time.
The branches were used for plaiting, such as mats, bags called coffe and brooms called giummarre. Horse hair was used for padding and ropes.
In Gothe´s work "Metamorphosis of Plants" (1790) he describes it as follows:

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