Roystonea oleracea
(Jacq.) O.F.Cook.
Arecaceae
Areca oleracea Jacq.
Gorgasia oleracea (Jacq.) O.F.Cook
Kentia oleracea (Jacq.) Seem. ex H.Wendl.
Oreodoxa oleracea (Jacq.) Mart.
Common Name: Caribbean Royal Palm
Plants growing in native habitat
Photograph by: scott.zona
Plants growing in native habitat
Photograph by: scott.zona
The avenue of palms at Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden
Photograph by: Ajna Fern
General Information
Caribbean Royal palm is a tall, evergreen, single-stemmed palm tree able to grow from 18 - 40 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 46 - 66cm in diameter; it is topped by a crown of 16 - 22 leaves[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
768- Title
- Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-691-08537-4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.
].
The apical bud is sometimes eaten as a vegetable, even though this leads to the death of the tree. The plant is widely grown as an ornamental and street tree in tropical areas[
302- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
-
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
Northern S. America - Colombia and Venezuela to the Caribbean.
Habitat
Lowland areas, often in patches of rainforest, in swampy places often in brackish water[
297- Title
- Palms of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Blombery. A. & Rodd. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-207-14848-1
- Description
- An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms.
]. Also found in gallery forests in savannah areas that are liable to seasonal inundation, at elevations up to 1,600 metres[
768- Title
- Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-691-08537-4
- Description
- An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 25.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the lowland tropics, it is also grown in the subtropics[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
]. Plants are best suited to areas of the tropics with high rainfall[
297- Title
- Palms of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Blombery. A. & Rodd. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-207-14848-1
- Description
- An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms.
].
Prefers a moist, well-drained soil in a sunny position[
302- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
-
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
]. Plants are tolerant of wet soils[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
].
Edible Uses
The apical growth bud is cooked and eaten like a cabbage[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
302- Title
- Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
- Publication
-
- Author
- Whistler. W. Arthur.
- Publisher
- Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-448-2
- Description
- An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
,
]. A delicate flavour[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. This palm is unable to produce side shoots and so harvesting the apical shoot will lead to the eventual death of the plant since no more new growth can be made[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
An edible starch is obtained from the pith of the stem[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The hard wood has been used to make musical instruments[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
Propagation
Seed - The seed takes about 2 months to germinate[
297- Title
- Palms of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Blombery. A. & Rodd. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-207-14848-1
- Description
- An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
