Roystonea dunlapiana
Encyclopedia
Roystonea dunlapiana, commonly known as yagua or cabiche is a species of palm
which is native to southern Mexico
and Central America
. It is the only species in the genus Roystonea
which is absent from the insular Caribbean
.
which is about 2 m (6.6 ft) long. Individuals have about 15 leaves with 4 metres (13.1 ft) rachis
es; the leaves hang well horizontal. The 1 m (3.3 ft) inflorescence
s bear white male flowers with purplish anthers; the female flowers are undescribed. Fruit are 12–14.7 mm (0.47244094488189–0.578740157480315 ) long and 7.1 millimetre wide, and are purplish black when ripe.
Roystoneae. The placement Roystonea within the Arecoideae is uncertain; a phylogeny based on plastid
DNA failed to resolve the position of the genus within the Arecoideae. As of 2008, there appear to be no molecular phylogenetic studies of Roystonea and the relationship between R. dunlapiana and the rest of the genus is uncertain.
The species was first described by American
botanist Paul H. Allen
in 1952. Allen's description of R. dunlapiana, together with his description of R. regia var. hondurensis
(now synonymised with typical R. regia) was the first record of Roystonea species native to Central America.
, Honduras
and Nicaragua
. In his monograph of the genus, Scott Zona reported that it is "likely to occur in Belize". It grows in estuaries
and coastal swamp
s. It is the only species in the genus Roystonea which is absent from the insular Caribbean.
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
which is native to southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. It is the only species in the genus Roystonea
Roystonea
Roystonea is a genus of eleven species of monoecious palms, native to the Caribbean Islands, and the adjacent coasts of Florida, Central and South America. Commonly known as the royal palms, the genus was named for Roy Stone, a U.S. Army engineer...
which is absent from the insular Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
.
Description
Roystonea dunlapiana is a large palm which reaches heights of 20 metres (66 ft). Stems are grey-white and about 38 centimetres (15 in) in diameter. The upper portion of the stem is encircled by leaf sheaths, forming a green portion known as the crownshaftCrownshaft
An elongated circumferential leaf base formation present on some species of palm is called a crownshaft.The leaf bases of some pinnate leaved palms form a sheath at the top of the trunk surrounding the bud where all the subsequent leaves are formed.The crownshaft...
which is about 2 m (6.6 ft) long. Individuals have about 15 leaves with 4 metres (13.1 ft) rachis
Rachis
Rachis is a biological term for a main axis or "shaft".-In zoology:In vertebrates a rachis can refer to the series of articulated vertebrae, which encase the spinal cord. In this case the rachis usually form the supporting axis of the body and is then called the spine or vertebral column...
es; the leaves hang well horizontal. The 1 m (3.3 ft) inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s bear white male flowers with purplish anthers; the female flowers are undescribed. Fruit are 12–14.7 mm (0.47244094488189–0.578740157480315 ) long and 7.1 millimetre wide, and are purplish black when ripe.
Taxonomy
Roystonea is placed in the subfamily Arecoideae and the tribeTribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
Roystoneae. The placement Roystonea within the Arecoideae is uncertain; a phylogeny based on plastid
Plastid
Plastids are major organelles found in the cells of plants and algae. Plastids are the site of manufacture and storage of important chemical compounds used by the cell...
DNA failed to resolve the position of the genus within the Arecoideae. As of 2008, there appear to be no molecular phylogenetic studies of Roystonea and the relationship between R. dunlapiana and the rest of the genus is uncertain.
The species was first described by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
botanist Paul H. Allen
Paul H. Allen
Paul Hamilton Allen was an American botanist noted for his work on the ecology of Central America, orchid systematics and economically important species including bananas. He was married to the former Dorothy Osdieck of Kirkwood, Missouri....
in 1952. Allen's description of R. dunlapiana, together with his description of R. regia var. hondurensis
Roystonea regia
Roystonea regia, commonly known as the Cuban royal palm, Florida royal palm, or simply the royal palm is a species of palm which is native to southern Florida, Mexico and parts of Central America and the northern Caribbean. It ranged into central Florida in the eighteenth century but in modern...
(now synonymised with typical R. regia) was the first record of Roystonea species native to Central America.
Distribution
Roystonea dunlapiana is native to southern MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. In his monograph of the genus, Scott Zona reported that it is "likely to occur in Belize". It grows in estuaries
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
and coastal swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s. It is the only species in the genus Roystonea which is absent from the insular Caribbean.