Roystonea borinquena

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Roystonea borinquena
(Roystonea borinquena) palmeiras imperiais, sao paulo botanical garden Arboretum J Botanico Sao Paulo Brazil.jpg
Roystonea borinquena in São Paulo Botanical Garden, Brazil
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Roystonea
Species:
R. borinquena
Binomial name
Roystonea borinquena
Synonyms [1]

Oreodoxa borinquena(O.F.Cook) Reasoner ex L.H.Bailey
Roystonea hispaniolanaL.H.Bailey
Roystonea hispaniolana f. altissima Moscoso
Roystonea peregrinaL.H.Bailey

Roystonea borinquena, commonly called the Puerto Rico royal palm [2] (Spanish: palma real puertorriqueña), is a species of palm which is native to Hispaniola (in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Description

Roystonea borinquena is a large palm which usually reaches a height of 12 to 18 metres (40 to 60 ft), but individuals 26.4 m (87 ft) have been recorded. [3] Stems are smooth and grey-brown to cinnamon-brown, [4] and range from 25–70 centimetres (10–28 in) in diameter. Leaves are 2.4–3.7 m (7.9–12.1 ft) long, with short petioles and leaf sheathes 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) long which encircles the upper portion of the stem, forming [3] a crownshaft. [4] The 1–1.4 m (3.3–4.6 ft) inflorescences bear creamy yellow male and female flowers; the anthers of the male flowers are bright purple. [4] The fruit is single-seeded, about 13 millimetres (0.5 in) long and 10 mm (0.4 in) wide. The greenish-yellow immature fruit turn brownish-purple as they ripen. [3]

Taxonomy

Roystonea is placed in the subfamily Arecoideae and the tribe Roystoneae. [5] The placement of Roystonea within the Arecoideae is uncertain; a 2006 phylogeny based on plastid DNA failed to resolve the position of the genus within the Arecoideae. [6] As of 2008, there appeared to be no molecular phylogenetic studies of Roystonea [5] and the relationship between R. borinquena and the rest of the genus is uncertain.

The species was first described by American botanist Orator F. Cook in 1901. [7] For most of the 19th century, only two species of royal palms were generally recognized: Greater Antillean royal palms were considered Oreodoxa regia (now Roystonea regia ), while Lesser Antillean ones were considered O. oleracea ( R. oleracea ). Due to problems with the way that the genus Oreodoxa had been applied by taxonomists, Cook proposed that the name Roystonea (in honor of American general Roy Stone) in 1900 [8] be applied to the royal palms. The following year Cook described Roystonea borinquena. [7]

Common names

Roystonea borinquena is known as the "mountain-cabbage", "Puerto Rico royal palm" or simply "royal palm" in English, [3] palmiste in Haiti, [4] palma real puertorriqueña, [9] manacla, palma caruta, palma de cerdos, palma de grana, palma de yagua, palma real, yagua and other names in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. [4]

Reproduction and growth

Young Roystonea borinquena trees may begin flowering when they are about seven years old, and they flower throughout the year. The flowers of Roystonea borinquena produce nectar and are visited by honey bees; [3] and are thought to be insect-pollinated. [4] Flowering individuals bear an average of 3.2 inflorescences per tree, and produce 6–12,000 fruit per inflorescence. Seeds germinate after 50–100 days. After six months, seedlings in full sunlight can reach a height of 30 centimetres (12 in); young trees can grow an average of 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) per year. [3]

Distribution

Roystonea borinquena is native to Hispaniola, Puerto Rico (including Vieques) and St. Croix, St. John and Tortola in the Virgin Islands. [9] In Hispaniola, R. borinquena is found at elevations below 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level, except in the driest regions. [4] In Puerto Rico it is found in areas below 300 m (1,000 ft) above sea level, [9] that receive 1,250–2,500 millimetres (49–98 in) of rainfall. [3]

Ecology

Roystonea borinquena fruit are a fat-rich food source for birds. [3] White-crowned pigeons (Patagioenas leucocephala) have been reported to disperse the seeds of the species. [4] The Critically Endangered Ridgway's hawk (Buteo ridgwayi), endemic to Hispaniola, favours R. borinquena when nesting. [10] Palmchats (Dulus dominicus), another Hispaniolan endemic, favour the tree when building their large communal nests. [11]

Uses

Royal palms are popular ornamental plants due to their striking appearance; [4] Roystonea borinquena is extensively planted as an ornamental in Puerto Rico. Its tolerance of air pollution, its ability to grow in a variety of soil types, and the fact that it roots do not damage sidewalks, increase its utility for landscaping and street planting. Its timber is occasionally used for construction but is susceptible to termite attack. Leaves are used as thatch and the leaf sheaths can be laid flat and used to make the sides of buildings. [3] Trunk bark has historically been used as clapboards called tablas (de palma) or planche (de yagua) for siding in the bohío houses indigenous to Hispaniola and Cuba. [12] The fruit are also fed to pigs [4] and other livestock. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arecaceae</span> Family of food and ornamental plants

The Arecaceae is a family of perennial, flowering plants in the monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly known as palms. Those having a tree-like form are called palm trees. Currently, 181 genera with around 2,600 species are known, most of which are restricted to tropical and subtropical climates. Most palms are distinguished by their large, compound, evergreen leaves, known as fronds, arranged at the top of an unbranched stem, except for the Hyphaene genus, who has branched palms. However, palms exhibit an enormous diversity in physical characteristics and inhabit nearly every type of habitat within their range, from rainforests to deserts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmchat</span> Species of bird endemic to Hispaniola

The palmchat is a small, long-tailed passerine bird, the only species in the genus Dulus and the family Dulidae endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. It is related to the waxwings, family Bombycillidae. Its name reflects its strong association with palms for feeding, roosting, and nesting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ridgway's hawk</span> Species of hawk endemic to Hispaniola

Ridgway's hawk is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. It is classified as Critically Endangered because of habitat destruction and human persecution in the Dominican Republic; however, due to conservation efforts, the population is now increasing.

<i>Aiphanes</i> Genus of spiny palms native to tropical South and Central America and the Caribbean

Aiphanes is a genus of spiny palms which is native to tropical regions of South and Central America and the Caribbean. There are about 26 species in the genus, ranging in size from understorey shrubs with subterranean stems to subcanopy trees as tall as 20 metres (66 ft). Most have pinnately compound leaves ; one species has entire leaves. Stems, leaves and sometimes even the fruit are covered with spines. Plants flower repeatedly over the course of their lifespan and have separate male and female flowers, although these are borne together on the same inflorescence. Although records of pollinators are limited, most species appear to be pollinated by insects. The fruit are eaten by several birds and mammals, including at least two species of amazon parrots.

<i>Roystonea</i> Genus of palms

Roystonea is a genus of eleven species of monoecious palms, native to the Neotropics, in the Caribbean, the adjacent coasts of Florida in the United States, Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Commonly known as the royal palms, the genus was named after Roy Stone, a U.S. Army engineer. It contains some of the most recognizable and commonly cultivated palms of tropical and subtropical regions.

<i>Aiphanes minima</i> Species of plant

Aiphanes minima is a spiny palm tree which is native to the insular Caribbean from Hispaniola to Grenada, and widely cultivated elsewhere. Usually 5–8 metres (16–26 ft) tall, it sometimes grows as an understorey tree and only 2 m (6.6 ft) in height.

Roystonea altissima is a species of palm which is endemic to hillsides and mountain slopes near the interior of Jamaica. The name altissima is Latin for "highest", however they are not the tallest species in the genus Roystonea. They are usually found just over sea-level to 760 metres (2,490 ft) in elevation.

<i>Calyptronoma rivalis</i> Species of palm

Calyptronoma rivalis is a pinnately compound leaved palm species that is native to the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. Its common names include palma de manaca and Puerto Rican manac.

<i>Zombia</i> Genus of palm endemic to Hispaniola

Zombia antillarum, commonly known as the zombie palm, is a species of palm tree and the only member of the genus Zombia. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles. Usually found in dry, hilly areas of northern and southern Haiti and the northwest of the Dominican Republic, Z. antillarum is a relatively short fan palm with clustered stems and a very distinctive appearance caused by its persistent spiny leaf sheaths. Threatened by habitat destruction in Haiti, Z. antillarum is a popular ornamental species due to its distinctive appearance, low maintenance requirements and salt tolerance.

<i>Roystonea dunlapiana</i> Species of palm

Roystonea dunlapiana, commonly known as yagua or cabiche is a species of palm which is native to Nicaragua, Honduras, and southern Mexico. It is the only species in the genus Roystonea which is absent from the insular Caribbean.

<i>Roystonea regia</i> Species of palm

Roystonea regia, commonly known as the Cuban royal palm or Florida royal palm, is a species of palm native to Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida, and parts of Central America. A large and attractive palm, it has been planted throughout the tropics and subtropics as an ornamental tree. Although it is sometimes called R. elata, the conserved name R. regia is now the correct name for the species. The royal palm reaches heights from 15–24 m (50–80 ft) tall. Populations in Cuba and Florida were long seen as separate species, but are now considered a single species.

<i>Leucothrinax</i> Genus of palms

Leucothrinax morrisii, the Key thatch palm, is a small palm which is native to the Greater Antilles, northern Lesser Antilles, The Bahamas and Florida and the Florida Keys in the United States.

<i>Roystonea oleracea</i> Species of palm

Roystonea oleracea, sometimes known as the Caribbean royal palm, palmiste, imperial palm or cabbage palm, is a species of palm which is native to the Lesser Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago. It is also reportedly naturalized in Guyana and on the islands of Mauritius and Réunion in the Indian Ocean.

Roystonea princeps, commonly known as Morass cabbage palm or Morass royal palm, is a species of palm which is endemic to western Jamaica.

Roystonea maisiana is a species of palm which is endemic to the Maisí region of Guantánamo Province in eastern Cuba.

Roystonea violacea is a species of palm which is endemic to the Maisí region of Guantánamo Province in eastern Cuba.

<i>Sabal causiarum</i> Species of plant

Sabal causiarum, commonly known as the Puerto Rico palmetto or Puerto Rican hat palm, is a species of palm which is native to Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. As its common and scientific names suggest, its leaves are used in the manufacture of "straw" hats.

Roystonea palaea is an extinct species of palm known from fossil flowers found in the early Miocene Burdigalian stage Dominican amber deposits on the island of Hispaniola. The species is known from a single staminate flower and a single pistillate flower both preserved in the same piece of amber. The amber specimen bearing the holotype and paratype is currently deposited in the collections of the Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, as number "Sd–9–101", where it was studied and described by George Poinar. Poinar published his 2002 type description for R. palaea in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 139. The species' second name is taken from the Greek word palaios meaning "ancient". The amber specimen bearing the flowers was excavated from the La Toca mine northeast of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

Cambalache State Forest and Reserve is a nature reserve and one of the 20 state forests in the territory of Puerto Rico. The Cambalache State Forest is located in the municipalities of Arecibo and Barceloneta in northern Puerto Rico.

References

  1. ↑ "Roystonea borinquena". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  2. ↑ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Roystonea borinquena". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Connor, K.F.; J.K. Francis (2002). "Roystonea borinquena (Kunth) O.F. Cook". In J.A. Vozzo (ed.). Tropical tree seed manual. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 721. pp. 698–700.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Zona, Scott (December 1996). "Roystonea (Arecaceae: Arecoideae)". Flora Neotropica. 71: 1–35.
  5. 1 2 Roncal, Julissa; Scott Zona; Carl E. Lewis (2008). "Molecular Phylogenetic Studies of Caribbean Palms (Arecaceae) and Their Relationships to Biogeography and Conservation". The Botanical Review. 74 (1): 78–102. doi:10.1007/s12229-008-9005-9. S2CID   40119059.
  6. ↑ Asmussen, Conny B.; John Dransfield; Vinnie Deickmann; Anders S. Barfod; Jean-Christophe Pintaud; William J. Baker (2006). "A new subfamily classification of the palm family (Arecaceae): evidence from plastid DNA phylogeny". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 151 (1): 15–38. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2006.00521.x .
  7. 1 2 Cook, O.F. (1901). "A Synopsis of the Palms of Puerto Rico". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 28 (10). Torrey Botanical Society: 525–69. doi:10.2307/2478709. JSTOR   2478709.
  8. ↑ Cook, O.F. (1900). "The Method of Types in Botanical Nomenclature". Science. 12 (300): 475–81. Bibcode:1900Sci....12..475C. doi:10.1126/science.12.300.475. hdl: 2027/hvd.32044106398464 . JSTOR   1628494. PMID   17750859.
  9. 1 2 3 Proctor, G.R. (2005). "Arecaceae (Palmae)" (PDF). In Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro; Strong, Mark T (eds.). Monocots and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contributions of the United States National Herbarium. Vol. 52. p. 147.
  10. ↑ BirdLife International (2020). "Buteo ridgwayi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T22695886A181707428. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22695886A181707428.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Palmchats (Dulidae) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  12. ↑ Edwards, Jay Dearboarn; Kariouk Pecquet du Bellay de Verton, Nicolas. A Creole Lexicon: Architecture, Landscape, People. Louisiana State University Press. pp. 191, 205. ISBN   0-8071-2764-7.
  13. ↑ Henderson, Andrew; Gloria Galeano; Rodrigo Bernal (1995). Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 134. ISBN   0-691-08537-4.
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