Red Latan

Description

Latania lontaroides is a species of palm tree. It is endemic to Réunion. It is also used as an ornamental plant. Its common names include the Red Latan, latanier de la Réunion, and latanier rouge. The armored scale insect Hemiberlesia lataniae was first described from this species of palm, and has since spread around the world and proved to be a serious pest of avocado. This palm was common on Réunion at one time, but the area in which it grows has diminished as land has been cleared for agriculture and for other purposes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being an endangered species in the wild, however it is also grown as an ornamental plant in various parts of the world. The genus contains three species, one from each of the three major islands (including islets) in the chain. All species have been ranked as Endangered by the IUCN. Latan palms are large, single-stemmed fan palms with separate male and female plants (dioecy); when the leaves fall, they leave scars on the trunks. Male flowers are small, in clusters, and emerge from within leathery bracts on the catkin-like inflorescences. Female flowers are larger, solitary and not concealed within bracts. The fruits contain 1-3 pyrenes, which are seeds enclosed within woody endocarps. The endocarps have sculpted surfaces and the three species are readily distinguished from their pyrenes.