Roystonea
Roystonea is a genus of tropical American palms known as royal palms. Its species typically have tall, smooth trunks and prominent green crownshafts.
Arecaceae: Arecaceae is the botanical family of palms, flowering plants with distinctive woody growth forms and large leaves. Roystonea is one genus within this palm family.
Roystonea regia: Roystonea regia is a royal palm native to Cuba and nearby parts of the Caribbean. It is the best-known species and Cuba’s national tree.
Ornamental plant: An ornamental plant is cultivated chiefly for its appearance rather than for food or industrial products. Royal palms are widely planted for their height, smooth trunks, and formal crowns.
Cocos nucifera: Cocos nucifera is the coconut palm, a tropical palm cultivated for its fruit and fibers. It is another familiar tropical palm, but belongs to a different genus.
Crownshaft: A crownshaft is a smooth, often green column formed by overlapping leaf bases below a palm’s crown. This conspicuous structure gives many royal palms their distinctive profile.
Roystonea oleracea: Roystonea oleracea is a tall royal palm native to the northern coast of South America and the Caribbean. Its great height and cultivated forms make it a prominent member of the genus.
Landscape architecture: Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor spaces using landform, plants, water, and built features. Rows of royal palms create strong vertical accents in tropical streets and public spaces.
Sabal palmetto: Sabal palmetto is a fan palm native to the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. It is a regional palm counterpart often found in habitats near Roystonea species.
Palmate leaf: A palmate leaf has leaflets radiating from a common point, like fingers from a palm. Palm leaf architecture helps distinguish palm genera and species.
Roystonea borinquena: Roystonea borinquena is a royal palm native to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It represents the genus’s Caribbean island diversity.