Roystonea regia Royal Palm
Family
Arecaceae
Genus
Roystonea
Species
regia [RE-je-a]
royal
Roystonea regia, commonly known as the Cuban royal palm, Florida royal palm, or
simply the royal palm is a species of palm which is native to southern Florida, Mexico
and parts of Central America and the Caribbean. 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. Populations in Cuba and Florida were long seen as separate species, but are now
considered to belong to a single species. Best known as an ornamental, R. regia is also
used as a source of thatch, construction timber, and in some forms of so-called
traditional medicine, although there is currently no valid scientific evidence to
support the efficacy or use of any palm species for medicinal purposes. The fruit is
eaten by birds and bats (which disperse the seeds) and fed to livestock. Its flowers are
visited by birds and bats, and it serves as a roosting site and food source for a
variety of animals. Roystonea regia is the national tree of Cuba, and has a religious
role both in SanterĂa and Christianity, where it is used in Palm Sunday
observances.