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Roystonea oleracea
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Synonyms: | Oreodoxa caribaea, Oreodoxa regia var. jenmanii, Areca oleracea, Euterpe caribaea, Kentia oleraceae, Acanthophoenix oleracea, Gorgasia maxima, Oreodoxa charibaea, Roystonea venezuelana |
| Common Name: | Cabbage Palm, Palmiste, Feathery Cabbage Palm, Caribbean Royal Palm, Caribee Royal Palm, West Indian Royal Palm, 菜王棕 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Solitary Habit) |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 40 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southern Caribbean, Venezuela and Colombia |
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Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A majestic, solitary, towering, fairly fast-growing palm with a stout, grey or whitish-grey trunk that is smooth and of uniform width through but usually with a prominent bulge at the base, supported by an eye-catching crown of ascending to spreading bright green, graceful feathery fronds. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Trunk grey or whitish-grey, stout, up to 66 cm in diameter, smooth, ringed with old leaf scars, usually with a bulge at the base; crownshaft smooth, green, about 2 m long. |
| Foliage | Fronds pinnate (feather-like), waxy, ascending to spreading, up to 6 m long and 2 m wide; leaflets in two planes held flat (thus a flat appearance of the fronds), up to 1 m long and 5 cm wide, often split into two at tip, drooping slightly at the tip. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Flower: Inflorescences cream, about 1.4 m long, with distinctly wavy spikes, arising from below the crownshaft; stamens 6. Fruit: Fruits oblong, about 0.7 to 1.4 cm long, purplish-black when ripe, single-seeded. |
| Cultivation | It prefers a warm, suntrap location on moist but well-drained soils. Being found goriwng in rich soils in nature, it responds well to occasional fertilisation, heavy mulching and regular watering during dry periods, which promotes a more rapid and healthier growth. Propagate by seeds that germinates readily within 1 to 4 months. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet 'Roystonea' honours Roy Stone, a U.S. Army engineer in Puerto Rico in the 19th century, while its species epithet 'oleracea' means 'edible' in Latin, in reference to the palm's growing point. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Palm - Solitary) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Solitary Habit, Aboveground |
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Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1388 |
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| Species ID | 5127 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
