Roystonea borinquena

Roystonea borinquena is a large palm which usually reaches a height of {{convert|12|to|18|m|ft|-1}}, but individuals {{convert|26.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} have been recorded. Stems are smooth and grey-brown to cinnamon-brown, and range from {{convert|25|-|70|cm|in|0}} in diameter. Leaves are {{convert|2.4|-|3.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} long, with short petioles and leaf sheathes {{convert|1|-|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} long which encircles the upper portion of the stem, forming a crownshaft. The {{convert|1|-|1.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} inflorescences bear creamy yellow male and female flowers; the anthers of the male flowers are bright purple. The fruit is single-seeded, about {{convert|13|mm|in|1}} long and {{convert|10|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} wide. The greenish-yellow immature fruit turn brownish-purple as they ripen.

Roystonea is placed in the subfamily Arecoideae and the tribe Roystoneae.{{cite journal| last = Roncal| first = Julissa |author2=Scott Zona |author3=Carl E. Lewis| year = 2008| title = Molecular Phylogenetic Studies of Caribbean Palms (Arecaceae) and Their Relationships to Biogeography and Conservation | journal = The Botanical Review| volume = 74| issue = 1| pages = 78–102| doi = 10.1007/s12229-008-9005-9| bibcode = 2008BotRv..74...78R | s2cid = 40119059 }} 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.{{cite journal| last = Asmussen| first = Conny B.|author2=John Dransfield |author3=Vinnie Deickmann |author4=Anders S. Barfod |author5=Jean-Christophe Pintaud |author6= William J. Baker | year = 2006| title = A new subfamily classification of the palm family (Arecaceae): evidence from plastid DNA phylogeny| journal = Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society| volume = 151| issue = 1| pages = 15–38| doi = 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2006.00521.x| doi-access = free| hdl = 11458/3588| hdl-access = free}} As of 2008, there appeared to be no molecular phylogenetic studies of Roystonea 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.{{cite journal| last = Cook| first = O.F.| author-link = Orator F. Cook| year = 1901| title = A Synopsis of the Palms of Puerto Rico| journal = Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club| volume = 28| issue = 10| pages = 525–69| doi = 10.2307/2478709| publisher = Torrey Botanical Society| jstor = 2478709| url = http://archive.org/details/synopsisofpalmso00cook}} 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{{cite journal| last = Cook| first = O.F.| author-link = Orator F. Cook| year = 1900| title = The Method of Types in Botanical Nomenclature| journal = Science| volume = 12| issue = 300| pages = 475–81| jstor = 1628494| doi = 10.1126/science.12.300.475| pmid = 17750859| bibcode = 1900Sci....12..475C| hdl = 2027/hvd.32044106398464| hdl-access = free}} be applied to the royal palms. The following year Cook described Roystonea borinquena.

Roystonea borinquena is known as the "mountain-cabbage", "Puerto Rico royal palm" or simply "royal palm" in English,{{cite book|last=Connor|first=K.F.|author2=J.K. Francis |editor=J.A. Vozzo|title=Tropical tree seed manual|url=http://www.rngr.net/Publications/ttsm|year=2002|publisher=USDA Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 721|location=Washington, DC|pages=698–700|chapter=Roystonea borinquena (Kunth) O.F. Cook|chapter-url=http://www.rngr.net/Publications/ttsm/Folder.2003-07-11.4726/PDF.2004-03-16.1835/view}} palmiste in Haiti,{{cite journal | last = Zona | first = Scott |date=December 1996 | title = Roystonea (Arecaceae: Arecoideae) | journal = Flora Neotropica | volume = 71 |pages = 1–35 }} palma real puertorriqueña,{{cite book |last= Proctor |first= G.R. |editor1-last = Acevedo-Rodríguez |editor1-first = Pedro |editor2-last = Strong |editor2-first = Mark T | year = 2005 | title = Monocots and Gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands |chapter-url= http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/PRFlora/monocots/vol52web.pdf |series= Contributions of the United States National Herbarium | volume = 52 |chapter= Arecaceae (Palmae) | page=147 }} 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.

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; and are thought to be insect-pollinated. 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 {{convert|30|cm|in}}; young trees can grow an average of {{convert|1|m}} per year.

Roystonea borinquena is native to Hispaniola, Puerto Rico (including Vieques) and St. Croix, St. John and Tortola in the Virgin Islands. In Hispaniola, R. borinquena is found at elevations below {{convert|800|m|ft|-2}} above sea level, except in the driest regions. In Puerto Rico it is found in areas below {{convert|300|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}} above sea level, that receive {{convert|1250|-|2500|mm|in}} of rainfall.

Roystonea borinquena fruit are a fat-rich food source for birds. White-crowned pigeons (Patagioenas leucocephala) have been reported to disperse the seeds of the species. The Critically Endangered Ridgway's hawk (Buteo ridgwayi), endemic to Hispaniola, favours R. borinquena when nesting.{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2020 |title=Buteo ridgwayi |volume=2020 |page=e.T22695886A181707428 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22695886A181707428.en |access-date=12 November 2021}} Palmchats (Dulus dominicus), another Hispaniolan endemic, favour the tree when building their large communal nests.{{Cite web |title=Palmchats (Dulidae) {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/palmchats-dulidae |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}

File:ENDIquadrangleUPR.jpg of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus]]

Royal palms are popular ornamental plants due to their striking appearance; 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. 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.{{cite book |last1=Edwards |first1=Jay Dearboarn |last2=Kariouk Pecquet du Bellay de Verton |first2=Nicolas |title=A Creole Lexicon: Architecture, Landscape, People |publisher=Louisiana State University Press |isbn=0-8071-2764-7 |pages=191, 205}} The fruit are also fed to pigs and other livestock.{{cite book |last=Henderson |first=Andrew |author-link= Andrew Henderson (botanist) |author2=Gloria Galeano |author3-link=Rodrigo Bernal |author3=Rodrigo Bernal|title=Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas |year=1995 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton, New Jersey| isbn= 0-691-08537-4|page=134|author2-link=Gloria Galeano }}

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borinquena

Category:Trees of the Caribbean

Category:Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN