Puerto Rico royal palm facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Puerto Rico royal palm
Roystonea borinquena in São Paulo Botanical Garden, Brazil
Scientific classification
Genus:	Roystonea
Species:	borinquena
Synonyms
Oreodoxa borinquena (O.F.Cook) Reasoner ex L.H.Bailey Roystonea hispaniolana L.H.Bailey Roystonea hispaniolana f. altissima Moscoso Roystonea peregrina L.H.Bailey

The Roystonea borinquena is a type of palm tree. People often call it the Puerto Rico royal palm. In Spanish, it's known as palma real puertorriqueña.

This beautiful palm tree grows naturally in a few places. You can find it on the island of Hispaniola, which includes the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It also grows in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

What Does It Look Like?

The Puerto Rico royal palm is a very tall tree. It usually grows to be about 12 to 18 meters (40 to 60 feet) high. Some have even been recorded at 26.4 meters (87 feet) tall! That's like a really tall building.

Its trunk is smooth and can be grey-brown or cinnamon-brown. It's quite wide, from 25 to 70 centimeters (10 to 28 inches) across.

The leaves are long, about 2.4 to 3.7 meters (8 to 12 feet). They have short stems called petioles. The base of the leaves wraps around the top of the trunk. This forms a smooth, green part called a crownshaft.

The tree produces creamy yellow flowers. Both male and female flowers grow on the same plant. The male flowers have bright purple parts called anthers. These flowers grow in clusters that are 1 to 1.4 meters (3 to 4.5 feet) long.

After flowering, the tree grows small fruits. Each fruit has one seed inside. They are about 13 millimeters (0.5 inches) long and 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) wide. When they are young, they are greenish-yellow. As they ripen, they turn a brownish-purple color.

How It Got Its Name

The Roystonea borinquena is part of a group of palms called Roystonea. An American botanist named Orator F. Cook first described this specific palm in 1901.

For a long time, people only recognized two main types of royal palms. The ones in the Greater Antilles were called Oreodoxa regia. Those in the Lesser Antilles were known as O. oleracea.

Cook suggested using the name Roystonea for these royal palms in 1900. He chose this name to honor an American general named Roy Stone. The next year, he officially named this particular palm Roystonea borinquena.

Other Names for This Palm

This palm has many names depending on where you are. In English, it's called "mountain-cabbage" or "Puerto Rico royal palm." Sometimes, people just call it "royal palm."

In Haiti, it's known as palmiste. In Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, it has many local names. These include palma real puertorriqueña, manacla, palma caruta, palma de cerdos, palma de grana, palma de yagua, palma real, and yagua.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Young Puerto Rico royal palms can start flowering when they are about seven years old. They produce flowers all year round.

The flowers of this palm make nectar. This nectar attracts honey bees. Scientists believe that insects help pollinate these trees.

A flowering tree can have about 3 to 4 flower clusters at a time. Each cluster can produce between 6,000 and 12,000 fruits.

The seeds from these fruits usually sprout after 50 to 100 days. Young seedlings that get a lot of sunlight can grow quickly. They can reach 30 centimeters (12 inches) tall in six months. On average, young trees can grow about 1 meter (3 feet) taller each year.

Where It Grows

The Roystonea borinquena palm is native to several islands. It grows naturally in Hispaniola, Puerto Rico (including Vieques), and parts of the Virgin Islands. This includes St. Croix, St. John, and Tortola.

On Hispaniola, you can find this palm at elevations below 800 meters (2,600 feet) above sea level. It avoids the very dry areas. In Puerto Rico, it prefers areas below 300 meters (1,000 feet) above sea level. These areas usually get a good amount of rain, between 1,250 and 2,500 millimeters (49 to 98 inches) each year.

Its Role in Nature

The fruits of the Puerto Rico royal palm are a rich source of fat for birds. Many birds eat these fruits.

For example, White-crowned pigeons are known to eat the fruits. They also help spread the seeds of the palm. This helps new palm trees grow in different places.

The Critically Endangered Ridgway's hawk is a special bird found only on Hispaniola. This hawk often chooses Roystonea borinquena trees for building its nests.

How People Use It

Royal palms are very popular as ornamental plants. People love to plant them because they look so striking and beautiful. In Puerto Rico, the Roystonea borinquena is widely planted in gardens and public spaces.

This palm is good for landscaping because it can handle air pollution. It also grows well in many different types of soil. Plus, its roots usually don't damage sidewalks, which is great for city planting.

Sometimes, the wood from these palms is used for building. However, it can be easily attacked by termites. The large leaves are also used as thatch for roofs. The strong leaf sheaths can be flattened and used to make the sides of buildings.

The fruits of the palm are also useful. They are often fed to pigs and other farm livestock.

See also

In Spanish: Palma real de Puerto Rico para niños