PALM STARS by Geoaskier

Photography • Flowers/Plants • posted on May 08, 2008

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Description

ROYAL PALMS...Roystonea species are single-stemmed trees, average in height to among the world's tallest. Growing from 10-30 m tall, the trunks are white, or nearly so, often bulging either at the base or the central portion, depending on the species. The leaves are pinnate, 3-7 m long with numerous (about 100) pinnae up to 1 m long and 2-4 cm broad; the leaves also have a distinctive green basal sheath (crownshaft) extending 2-5 m down the trunk. These plants have the ability to easily release their leaves in strong winds, a supposed adaption serving to prevent toppling during hurricanes. Inflorescences occur beneath the crownshaft, emerging from a narrow, horn-shaped bract. The flowers on the branched panicles are usually white, unisexual, and contain both sexes. The fruit is an oblong or globose drupe 1-2 cm long and deep purple when ripe.[2] Some species so closely resemble one another that scientific differentiation is by inflorescence detail; flower size, color, etc.