Kingdom Plantae Family Arecaceae Scientific name Roystonea violacea | Order Arecales Genus Roystonea Rank Species | |
Similar Roystonea dunlapiana, Roystonea borinquena, Acrocomia crispa, Roystonea, Arecoideae | ||
Roystonea violacea is a species of palm which is endemic to the Maisí region of Guantánamo Province in eastern Cuba.
Description
Roystonea violacea is a large palm which reaches heights of 15 metres (49 ft). Stems are mauve-brown to mauve-grey and are about 34 centimetres (13 in) in diameter. The upper portion of the stem is encircled by leaf sheaths, forming a green portion known as the crownshaft which is normally 2 m (6.6 ft) long. Individuals have about 15 leaves with 80 centimetres (31 in) petioles and 3.2–3.6-metre (10–12 ft) rachises; the leaves hang well horizontal. The 1.3 m (4.3 ft) inflorescences bear violet male and female flowers. Fruit are 12–13.7 millimetres (0.47–0.54 in) long and 7.8–8.5 mm (0.31–0.33 in) wide, and are brown to black when ripe.