Roystonea violacea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roystonea violacea |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Roystonea
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| Species: |
violacea
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Roystonea violacea is a special type of palm tree. It grows only in one specific place: the Maisí region of Guantánamo Province in eastern Cuba. When a plant or animal is found only in one area, it is called endemic. This makes the Roystonea violacea a unique part of Cuba's natural world.
About the Roystonea violacea Palm
This palm is quite tall! It can grow up to 15 metres (49 ft) high, which is like a five-story building. The main stem, or trunk, of the palm has a cool color. It can be mauve-brown or mauve-grey. This trunk is about 34 centimetres (13 in) wide.
Leaves and Crownshaft
Near the top of the trunk, you'll see a smooth, green part. This is called the crownshaft. It's formed by the bases of the leaves wrapping tightly around the stem. The crownshaft is usually about 2 m (6.6 ft) long. Each palm tree has about 15 large leaves.
- The part of the leaf that connects to the stem is called a petiole. These petioles are about 80 centimetres (31 in) long.
- The main stem of the leaf, where the smaller leaflets attach, is called the rachis. These can be quite long, from 3.2–3.6-metre (10–12 ft).
- The leaves usually spread out wide and hang horizontally, giving the palm a beautiful, open look.
Flowers and Fruit
The Roystonea violacea palm produces flowers on a special stalk called an inflorescence. This stalk is about 1.3 m (4.3 ft) long. The flowers themselves are a pretty violet color. Both male and female flowers grow on the same inflorescence.
After the flowers bloom, the palm produces fruit. These fruits are small, about 12–13.7 millimetres (0.47–0.54 in) long and 7.8–8.5 mm (0.31–0.33 in) wide. When they are ready to be picked, they change color from brown to black.
See also
In Spanish: Roystonea violacea para niños
