Copernicia fallaensis
{{Short description|Species of palm}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Copernicia fallaensis.jpg
|genus = Copernicia
|species = fallaensis
|authority = León
}}
Copernicia fallaensis is a fan palm (family Palmae or Arecaceae) which is endemic to the region around Falla, Cuba.{{cite web |url=http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=46698&repSynonym_id=-9998&name_id=46698&status=true |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130802160807/http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/wcsp/namedetail.do?accepted_id=46698&repSynonym_id=-9998&name_id=46698&status=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-08-02 |title=Copernicia fallaensis |accessdate=2006-12-08 |format= |work=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families }} It is among the ten largest palm species, being up to thirty inches (75 cm ){{cite journal | last= Craft| first= Paul | date= Fall 2015 – Spring 2016 | title= The Copernicias of Cuba | journal= The Palm Journal | issue= 210 | page= 7}} or even 36 inches (0.9 meter)Larry R. Niblick, Copernicia at the Montgomery Botanical Center. ibid page 25 DBH (diameter at breast height) and up to 65 feet (twenty meters) in height.
Description
Copernicia fallaensis is a towering palm species with a smooth, light gray trunk that thickens at the middle and reaches up to 20 meters in height. Its dense, rounded crown is made up of large, rigid, palmate leaves, each divided into around 120 stiff segments that create an intricate, geometric pattern against the sky. The leaf color is a distinctive waxy blue-green, while the broad petioles can appear nearly white. In its native habitat, the fruits serve as an important food source for local wildlife, including fruit bats. Despite comparisons to Copernicia baileyana, this species stands apart with its commanding presence and striking appearance, making it one of the most visually impressive members of its genus.{{Cite web |title=Copernicia fallaensis - Palmpedia - Palm Grower's Guide |url=https://palmpedia.net/wiki/Copernicia_fallaensis |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=palmpedia.net}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5168525}}
Category:Endemic flora of Cuba
{{Arecaceae-stub}}
{{tree-stub}}