Family : Arecaceae
Text © Pietro Puccio
English translation by Mario Beltramini
Cuban National tree, the Roystonea regia grows also in Florida, Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Bahamas and Cayman Islands. Is recognized at first glance by the foliar base, smooth and of glossy pale green colour, wrapping wholly the trunk for a height of 1,5-2 m forming an elegant and unmistakable capital © Giuseppe Mazza
The genus takes the name from the general of the US army Roy Stone (1836-1905), who worked as engineer in Puerto Rico; the Latin name of the species “regia” = royal, majestic, is very much appropriate for describing this palm.
It’s one of the most ornamental palms reaching the 20 m with a 70 cm trunk © Giuseppe Mazza
The names with which is commonly known is: palma reale (Italian); Cuban royal palm, royal palm (English); palmier royal (French); Königspalme (German); chaguaramo, yagua, palma criolla, palma real (Spanish); palmeira-real, palmeira-imperial-de-Cuba (Portuguese).
It shows a single stem, smooth, impressing, with a slightly irregular outline, and enlarged at the base, of whitish colour, it reaches a maximum height of about 25 m with a diameter up to 70 cm; the foliar base, smooth and of a glossy pale green colour, wraps up completely the stem for a height of 1,5-2 m, forming a sort of elegant capital.
The leaves are pinnate, long about 4 m, with green leaflets, of glossy dark green, inserted on the rachis on two different angles, long up to 1 metre.
The inflorescences, very ramified, develop under the leaves inside a spathe long up to 1,5 m and carry small whitish flowers of both sexes. The fruits are globose, of about 1 cm of diameter, of brown red colour. The seeds germinate in about 2 months.
It is one of the most ornamental palms due to its impressiveness and elegance and is one of the most cultivated in the tropical and subtropical countries, where it is often utilized as tree on the sides of avenues and alleys.
The cultivation can be tried also in warm temperate zones, in full sun, as it resists to temperatures just under the zero for short periods, where, however, it shows a less thick crown and a speed of growth much inferior. Locally, the fruits (palmiche), produced in huge quantity, are utilized as nourishment for animals.
The numerous brown red globose fruits, of abot 1 cm of diameter, are used as food for animals. The seeds germinate in about 2 months © Giuseppe Mazza
→ For general notions about ARECACEAE please click here.