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The Tallest Royal Palms Around

Phil

By Phil
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

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Phil Veteran

Phil

Posted
Posted

Reading Carlo Morici's thread on the red crownshafted Royals and some very old plants on La Palma Island  made me think of an experience that some of us had at the IPS Biennial in the year 2000 in New Caledonia.  We were there to see native palms of New Caledonia.  And, that we did.  But, one of the most memorable moments of that Biennial had nothing at all to do with native species.   One evening, right at dusk and accompanied by an ochestra ensemble and beautiful classical music, we viewed the largest Roystonea oleracea I have ever seen.  If you look at the photo below, those little white things near the base of the palms are people.  I don't know the heights for sure, but they appeared to be greater than 100 feet.  It was cultminated by a light show from the bases of the trees, shining upwards into these giants with music to match.  There were many teared eyes in the group just because of the beauty of these trees.  Our Hosts of the Palm Society of New Caledonia had had left an indelible memory with a species from the other side of the world.  When was this grove planted?  No one knows.  They've just always been there.  Perhaps some of you from local habitat areas have photos to match these.  This evening, along with all the other moments of the Biennial, really made the New Caledonia experience a trip of a lifetime.

Phil

roystonea_oleracea_005.gif

roystonea_oleracea_009.gif

Jungle Music Palms and Cycads, established 1977 and located in Encinitas, CA, 20 miles north of San Diego on the Coast.  Phone:  619 2914605 Link to Phil's Email phil.bergman@junglemusic.net Website: www.junglemusic.net Link to Jungle Music Palms and Cycads

merrill Mentor

merrill

Posted
Posted

Hi, Phil:

Those are very impressive palms.  R. oleracea is my favorite of the genus, but apparently less coldhardy than some others.

The double row of R. oleracea near the entrance of the Rio De Janeiro B. G. are said to have been planted under the direction of the Emperor [Dom Pedro?]  I'm no historian, but that time frame gave them an opportunity to get very tall also.

Happy New Year!

merrill

merrill, North Central Florida

bgl Grand Master

bgl

Posted
Posted

Phil,

Yes, for those of us who were lucky enough to attend, that was certainly an unforgettable experience. And quite unexpected! I talked with a few of the New Caledonians and asked them about these Royals, and the answer I got was that they had been planted by a Frenchman who arrived from the island of Reunion, either in 1862 or 1864. So, when we were there, these palms were probably close to 140 years in age. I think most people who tried to estimate their height arrived at roughly 150 ft.

Bo-Göran

Leilani Estates, 25 mls/40 km south of Hilo, Big Island of Hawai'i. Elevation 880 ft/270 m. Average rainfall 140 inches/3550 mm

 

edbrown_3 Collaborator

edbrown_3

Posted
Posted

Beautiful and awe striking photos Phil!

To elaborate on some of the history that Merril mentioned, the Royal Palm avenue in Jardim Botanico Rio---- These were planted in 1842 which makes 165 years or so old. They predate these slightly. ---Perhaps they are related on come from these.  

King Dom Pedro had planted a large royal in 1808 ( as best memory serves me)-- I saw a artifact of this in on site museum.  --- but cant remember some of the descriptive history they had on it.

Best regards,

Ed

Edwin Brown III

Palmy Experienced

Palmy

Posted
Posted

It would appear that some of those tall royals have their tops chopped off or perhaps I'm seeing things. Is this because of the palms age?

Meteorologist and PhD student in Climate Science

Carlo Morici Veteran

Carlo Morici

Posted
Posted

If I am right they told us that the plantsman got the seeds from the French caribbean islands, where R.oleracea is native. He started a nursery in New Caledonia and planned to sell this row of royals, but they stayed. As Bo said, I remember they were about 140 years old and 50 m tall.

During the biennial I talked with other members from the Caribbean and people said that in habitat they do not attain this size because they die at an earlier age of lightening strikes and hurricanes, which are much less frecuent in the grand terre of New Caledonia

It was a really wonderful evening.

Carlo

Jerry@TreeZoo Grand Master

Jerry@TreeZoo

Posted
Posted

Fresh venison and turkey served on china with white tablecloths.  It was not something you would expect in the middle of nowhere.

Jerry

So many species,

so little time.

Coconut Creek, Florida

Zone 10b (Zone 11 except for once evey 10 or 20 years)

Last Freeze: 2011,50 Miles North of Fairchilds

edbrown_3 Collaborator

edbrown_3

Posted
Posted

some photos of Royals in Jardim Botanico to extend Phils thread.

Best regards,

Ed

post-259-1198705384_thumb.jpg

Edwin Brown III

edbrown_3 Collaborator

edbrown_3

Posted
Posted

another view

Happy Holidays

post-259-1198705433_thumb.jpg

Edwin Brown III

Phil Veteran

Phil

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Bo, Carlo and Others,

The thing that impressed me about these Royals in N.C. was their height.  I didn't hear the age and  estimated height as you did, so I just posted "over a hundred feet" in this thread, well knowing that they appeared taller.  They look like the tall trunks of Ceroxylon.  Regarding the question about the tall but dead trunks, it is true.  Some are dead.  I suspect if these were in Florida, Mother Nature's lightning would strike them down in short order.  But, on this rather small island of New Caledonia, they have persisted.   Boy, did I love that Biennial!

Phil

Jungle Music Palms and Cycads, established 1977 and located in Encinitas, CA, 20 miles north of San Diego on the Coast.  Phone:  619 2914605 Link to Phil's Email phil.bergman@junglemusic.net Website: www.junglemusic.net Link to Jungle Music Palms and Cycads

Breadfruit Bill Grand Master

Breadfruit Bill

Posted
Posted

Wow Phil!  Thanks for posting those pics!  I have never seen Royals get so TALL!  You hit the nail on the head...  Lightning or winds usually take them down before they reach those heights in their native territories!

www.dadluvsu.com

Gileno Machado Grand Master

Gileno Machado

Posted
Posted

What a sight...Old Roystoneas are always awesome...

I've posted this historic image here in Palmtalk before:

In 1807 (exactly 200 years ago, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal and then the portuguese Royal family (protected by the British navy) run away and sailed to Rio de Janeiro, tranfering the crown of the Empire to Brazil for many years, until our independence in 1822...This was actually the beginning of this Country as a nation, post colonial times...

This palm in the picture below was the famous "Palma Mater" planted by Regent Prince D. João (later King D. João VI of Portugal) in 1808 for the innauguration of the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. It would be 200 years old by now if it hadn't been hit by a lightning in 1972 and beheaded of the crown...

The remaining 39.7 m of clear trunk is still preserved at the Botanic Museum in Rio.  The row of palms (in Ed's photos) from 1842 are all direct descendents from this palm and they are called Aléia Barbosa Rodrigues, in honor of the great Biologist who described several genus and species of palms. Most Roystonea oleraceas existing in Brazil today are all descendent from this palm and they are commonly called "Palmeiras Imperiais" because of the Emperor, who was actually the first known palmnut of all times...

post-157-1198876920_thumb.png

Sirinhaém beach, 80 Km south of Recife - Brazil

Tropical oceanic climate, latitude 8° S

Temperature extremes: 25 to 31°C

2000 mm average rainfall, dry summers

happ Grand Master

happ

Posted
Posted

Thank you for a magnificent display of giants [our ancestor palms  :P

Los Angeles/Pasadena

34° 10' N   118° 18' W

Elevation: 910'/278m

January Average Hi/Lo: 69F/50F

July Average Hi/Lo: 88F/66F

Average Rainfall: 19"/48cm

USDA 11/Sunset 23

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?MTW

merrill Mentor

merrill

Posted
Posted

Thank You, Gileno.  That is extremely interesting!  Thank You very much for posting it again.

Best Wishes,

merrill

merrill, North Central Florida

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

Thank you all for those pictures!

The pictures Phil posted appear to be plants that are about 150 feet all.

AWESOME.

All you have to do is live long enough, and not get struck by lightning . . . . .

dave

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

Phil Veteran

Phil

Posted
  • Author
Posted

When one looks at really old Roystonea oleracea, the thought of competition in height with Ceroxylon quindiuense comes to mind.  I am sure that the Ceroxylon would win, but it's nice to root for the undergdog.

Phil

Jungle Music Palms and Cycads, established 1977 and located in Encinitas, CA, 20 miles north of San Diego on the Coast.  Phone:  619 2914605 Link to Phil's Email phil.bergman@junglemusic.net Website: www.junglemusic.net Link to Jungle Music Palms and Cycads

Bob Johnson Collaborator

Bob Johnson

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the Royal pics - truly awe-inspiring!

Here is one I found somewhere on the net (can't remember where) that was part of a collection labeled "Old FLA Everglades Photos."

post-739-1199405223_thumb.jpg

Bob Johnson
Orlando, Florida, USA

merrill Mentor

merrill

Posted
Posted

Hi, Bob:

Thank You for a wonderful photo!

merrill

merrill, North Central Florida

  • 2 years later...
garrin Collaborator

garrin

Posted
Posted

Reading Carlo Morici's thread on the red crownshafted Royals and some very old plants on La Palma Island  made me think of an experience that some of us had at the IPS Biennial in the year 2000 in New Caledonia.  We were there to see native palms of New Caledonia.  And, that we did.  But, one of the most memorable moments of that Biennial had nothing at all to do with native species.   One evening, right at dusk and accompanied by an ochestra ensemble and beautiful classical music, we viewed the largest Roystonea oleracea I have ever seen.  If you look at the photo below, those little white things near the base of the palms are people.  I don't know the heights for sure, but they appeared to be greater than 100 feet.  It was cultminated by a light show from the bases of the trees, shining upwards into these giants with music to match.  There were many teared eyes in the group just because of the beauty of these trees.  Our Hosts of the Palm Society of New Caledonia had had left an indelible memory with a species from the other side of the world.  When was this grove planted?  No one knows.  They've just always been there.  Perhaps some of you from local habitat areas have photos to match these.  This evening, along with all the other moments of the Biennial, really made the New Caledonia experience a trip of a lifetime.

Phil

roystonea_oleracea_005.gif

roystonea_oleracea_009.gif

Hi Phil,

Just reading your post brought back such glorious memories of that night in New Caledonia that I came to tears all over again. Let's not forget the wonderful generousity of the local people there who produced for us that wonderful BBQ, all the effort by our New Caledonians and even the local power company for running long major electical cables back into the valley for the occasion. Our presence may have led to the area being made into a national park. Has anyone ever heard of any follow up in that regard?

garrin in hawaii

Xenon Grand Master

Xenon

Posted
Posted

:) Love the pics!

-Jonathan

Jonathan

Katy, TX (Zone 9a)

realarch Grand Master

realarch

Posted
Posted

Holy moly, that is awesome. Thanks for the photos and some background. Wow!

Tim

Tim

Hilo, Hawaii

floridasun Enthusiast

floridasun

Posted
Posted
:drool: i want them all.......hhmm :rolleyes::D:(

i love florida...............and palm trees!

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