Puerto Rico Royal Palm

Description

Roystonea borinquena is large palm which usually reaches a height of 12 to 18 metres (40 to 60 ft), but individuals 26.4 m (87 ft) have been recorded. Stems are smooth and grey-brown to cinnamon-brown,and range from 25-70 centimetres (10-28 in) in diameter. Leaves are 2.4-3.7 m (7.9-12.1 ft) long, with short petioles and leaf sheathes 1-3 m (3.3-9.8 ft) long which encircles the upper portion of the stem, forming a crownshaft.The 1-1.4 m (3.3-4.6 ft) inflorescences bear creamy yellow male and female flowers; the anthers of the male flowers are bright purple.The fruit is single-seeded, about 13 millimetres (0.5 in) long and 10 mm (0.4 in) wide. The greenish-yellow immature fruit turn brownish-purple as they ripen.