Roystonea regia

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File:Roystonea regia06.JPG

Figure 1. possible hybrid with R. oleracea, Noumea, New Caledonia.

Synonymy:

R. elata

Common Names:

Cuban Royal Palm

Distribution & Habitat:

Rainforest of Cuba and Honduras, possibly naturalised in Southern Florida as it has readily elsewhere, including Costa Rica, Guyana etc. Formerly, the Florida population situated just north of its naturally occurring growing range was regarded as of a separate species, Roystonea elata, but that determination is no longer accepted. Hybridises freely with Roystonea oleracea particularly in Hawaii and other places where both species are commonly cultivated in close proximity.

Description:

Large attractive palm to about 20m, with a noticably bulging trunk. Lower leaves hanging bellow the vertical with long loosely plumose leaflets.

General:

This is quite a popular palm, and often grown in suburban gardens. Due to their size, however, this isn't recommended, since once the palm gains size, the falling leaves can be a hazard, both to the gardener, and any unfortunate plants which happen to be underneath it. Many are also planted by municipalities and private develpments only to have their outer leaves constantly and prematurely removed, as a safety precaution. This weakens the palms leading to stress and mineral deficiencies, diseases and insect attack, the result, abnormal growth and declining palms. Ultimately they end up being replaced. Once they attain a reasonable size, they are very difficult (and expensive), to remove. However given suitable planting sites they are an unmisable part of the sub-tropical and tropical landscape. Recommended, for parks and wide driveways, highway sidings etc without direct, incidental or accidental traffic beneath etc, wherever a large stately looking palm is required.

Culture:

Gross feeders they require regular irrigation, feeding and trace elements untill established but are easier with the preferred heat and humidity and good deep rich moist soil in full sun. Fast grower in suitably humid warm climates, needing moisture, trace elements and fertiliser to keep up with the rapid growth rate. Very susceptible until established to a lack of nutrition and trace elements, with necrotic premature shedding of older leaves, "pencil top" (wide base narrow top) and misshapen trunks in less than ideal conditions.

File:Roystonea regia.jpg

Figure 2. A footpath planting of R. regia.

Figure 4. R. regia in a group planting.

Figure 3. An older plant of R. regia.

Figure 5. R. regia at Paradise Key, Everglades National Park, Florida.

Figure 6. Stand of R. regia under a stormy sky, Paradise Key, Everglades National Park, Florida.

Contributed by:

Mal Walker (Figure 1)
Gaston Torres Vera (Figure 2&3)
Stan Walkley (Figure 4)
Dr. Stevens Heckscher (Figure 5&6)

External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, JSTOR, Trebrown, FloriData, Wikipedia

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr, PalmTalk