Gómez Vives, S., Ferry, V.M., & Caballero Ruano, M. 1999 A peculiar use of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) leaves in Elche, Spain: "la palma blanca".. Acta Horticulturae No. 486: 285-290.

Notes: [Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Ornamental Palms and other Monocots from the Tropics, Tenerife, Spain February 1997.] The process used to produce white palm leaves, which are used for religious purposes on Palm Sunday, is described. The production of white palm leaves is an ancient, traditional and family business. White palm leaves are obtained by excluding light from the leaves and inhibiting chlorophyll production by the formation of cones of old leaves which protect the new leaves (January-May). Between July and September, the cones are covered by a cowl of black plastic. After harvesting (January to Easter) the leaves are graded according to size and whiteness, then bleached before storage under conditions of high humidity in the presence of burning sulfur. Leaves may then be sold without further treatment or plaited. The costs and returns associated with white palm leaf production, the market and production problems, in particular the new pest Phoenicococcus marlatti (red scale), are discussed.