Common Name:

General Information

Roystonea borinquena is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm growing up to 15 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 25 - 50cm in diameter; it is topped by a crown of up to 15 leaves that are each up to 3.5 metres long[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of food and materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, being especially suited for planting in polluted cities and in restricted places along the sides of roads[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Caribbean - Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti.

Habitat

Slopes and valleys of moist, limestone hills[]. Forests, pastures, and river banks, being found in all but the upper mountains and the dry limestone regions of Puerto Rico[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A native of the moist troipical lowlands, the species regenerates naturally in areas with a mean annual rainfall of 1,250 - 2,500mm of rain; a mean annual temperature of 25°c, and frost free[].
Grows best in a position in full sun[]. Prefers a well drained position, preferably on limestone based soils[]. Mature trees withstand hurricane force winds[]. The plant is able to withstand a polluted atmosphere, and also to grow well on either moist, well-drained soils or partially compacted fill dirt[].
A fast-growing tree when young[].
Plants transplant very easily, even when mature[].
The roots don't damage sidewalks or kerbs even when the trees are planted in constricted spaces[].
The plant can flower and produce fruit all year round[].

Edible Uses

We have no specific information regarding the edibility of the apical bud, but it is closely related to several other species where the bud is eaten. If edible, the following notes would apply:-
Leaves - cooked[]. The apical bud, often known as a 'palm heart', is eaten as a vegetable[]. Eating this bud leads to the death of the tree because it is unable to make side shoots[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

An important honey plant, the flowers attract numerous bees[].

Other Uses

The leaves can be used as a thatch on barns and houses[, ].

The dry leaf sheaths (yaguas) can be spread out flat to make the sides of buildings[, ].

The twisted young leaf segments are woven into chair seats and backs[].

Fresh leaves are widely displayed locally for religious services on Palm Sunday[].

The stems were once widely used in rural construction[]. Boards hewn from the harder outer part of the trunks are widely used for siding and flooring in rural construction. However, they are very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites[].

Propagation

Seed is easily germinated, the seedlings can take full sun immediately and are very fast growing[].

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