About This Tree
ARECACEAE (Palm family)
With grey-white trunk, the Cuban Royal Palm can grow from 50 to 70 feet tall with a canopy spread up to 25 feet in diameter which is composed of 15 to 20 leaves. The trunk of the Cuban Royal Palm is swollen at the base. Its leaf is divided once (singly compound) with long, narrow leaflets just like a bird feather. This palm is fast growing if it is well watered and fertilized. Being tolerant of salt drift, Cuban Royal Palm will grow near salt water and on the beach. This palm prevent itself from toppling over by having the ability to easily release their leaves in strong winds
Common Uses
Cuban Royal Palm is notable for its landscape aspect. It is often made as a great choice for high end homes and to lined the street creating a beautiful tropical boulevard. The seeds are used for the production of oil and for livestock feed, while the woods are used for construction. Tifey, a Haitian drink is often added with the roots of Cuban Royal Palm to promote the production of urine. It is also used as a treatment for diabetes.
Interesting Facts!
- This tree plays an important role in Palm Sunday in Roman Catholicism.
- The majestic Cuban Royal Palm is considered as the most beautiful palm in the world.
- It is also known as the national tree of Cuba.
- In older references, this genus may referred to as Oreodoxa regia but it was change to Roystona; in honor of General Roy Stone, an army engineer who did the road building work in Puerto Rico during the capture of the island.
References:
http://mobile.floridata.com/Plants/Arecacea/Roystonea%20regia/238
Trees of UM 