Coccothrinax alta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coccothrinax alta |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Coccothrinax
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| Species: |
alta
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The Coccothrinax alta is a type of palm tree. It is also known as the palma plateada (silver palm), palma de abanico (fan palm), or Tyre palm. This special palm tree grows naturally in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Like other palms in its group, the C. alta is a fan palm. This means its leaves look like a large fan. These trees usually grow between 2 and 6 meters (about 6 to 20 feet) tall. Some can even reach up to 11 meters (about 36 feet)! Its flowers are a light yellow color. When the fruit is ready, it turns a dark purple-black. You can find these palms in lower areas, but they can also grow up to 350 meters (about 1,150 feet) above sea level.
Where Does the Silver Palm Grow?
The Coccothrinax alta palm grows in different types of soil. In northern Puerto Rico, it likes to grow on limestone ground. Limestone is a type of rock that forms from shells and bones of sea creatures. On the islands near eastern Puerto Rico, it grows on volcanic soil. This soil comes from volcanoes.
You can find this palm in many places. It grows on the main island of Puerto Rico. It also grows on nearby islands like Vieques and Culebra. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, it lives on Saint Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. You can also spot it in the British Virgin Islands on Guana Island, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda.
See also
In Spanish: Palma plateada para niños
