Roystoneas of Bermuda

[Palm Guy]

Hi all,

According to one of our local botany books there are only 2 species of Roystonea on the island, R. Oleracea and R. Regia. While taking a drive around various locations of the island I have come across some different looking Roystoneas, perhaps R. Princeps. Sorry for the poor quality pictures we're still in the midst of a cold front so it was overcast for much of the day.

Also, why do many of the Royals seem to throw new yellow leaves in winter? I've noticed this on many other palms but Royals are the most noticeable. Anyone else notice this?

First up, the possible R. Princeps. There were about four or five of them with the same look witin 100 yards of each other. No bulging in the trunks. Smaller leaves and leaf crowns. Even the flowers looked slightly different. Is it possible that these are just shade grown R. oleraceas so they stretched themselves thin?

Here are some side by side comparisons. The first pic contains one possible R. Princeps on the very far left. The second picture shows one just peering out of some trees in the center with some other fatter R. Olereceas. Notice the smaller leaves, more slender trunk and smaller crown? Please offer any suggestions or comments.

[Palm Guy]

Here are some examples of naturalisation in Bermuda. I took these pictures at one of our local peat swamps. There were Phoenix Reclinatas, Sabal Bermudanas and Roystoneas fighting for space in this wetland.

Some other examples of the more common looking royals.

Cheers,

Mike

[Ken Johnson]

Those are great photos, thanks! Royal palms are a great study.

An island like yours is a great place to study palms in general. People have brought seeds to that place for thousands of years. No? maybe 500 years?

An example of human influence is well illustrated in the biodiversity that your pix have shown here on Palm Talk.

In South Florida we have a similar occurrence only less well recognized. Roystonia and Pseudophoenix are undoubtedly introduced from human activity. Humans knew that palms were food. (And wine!) One royal palm heart will feed many hungry people! Pseudophoenix is called "the wine palm" too for a reason.

Can you take a few pix of the different fruit trees on the island to help drive home the point? I am sure that all of the worlds fruit that will grow in Bermuda are also planted in Bermuda!

[Palm Guy]

Those are great photos, thanks! Royal palms are a great study.

An island like yours is a great place to study palms in general. People have brought seeds to that place for thousands of years. No? maybe 500 years?

An example of human influence is well illustrated in the biodiversity that your pix have shown here on Palm Talk.

In South Florida we have a similar occurrence only less well recognized. Roystonia and Pseudophoenix are undoubtedly introduced from human activity. Humans knew that palms were food. (And wine!) One royal palm heart will feed many hungry people! Pseudophoenix is called "the wine palm" too for a reason.

Can you take a few pix of the different fruit trees on the island to help drive home the point? I am sure that all of the worlds fruit that will grow in Bermuda are also planted in Bermuda!

Hi Ken,

Yep, thats the frustrating thing about Bermuda. Palms are not allowed on the island in any form yet so many varieties of fruit are on the island! Everyone bad mouths the Livistona Chinensis, Phoenix, and Ptychosperma palms but fruit trees that are even more invasive such as loquats, paw paws, citrus, bananas, and many other fruit trees are allowed to grow without concern.

I'll take some photos of the 30 loquat seedlings growing in my hibiscus hedge and the many pawpaws in the morning. I think that'll drive home the point.

Cheers,

[bubba]

Mike, That is some Royal stuff! the example pictures are great but that naturalization spliff is beyond outstanding.Thank you.

[Palm Guy]

Bubba - Thanks for your always welcomed comments!

Ken - This website article seems to answer most if not all of your questions.

http://www.archive.org/stream/botanyofberm...00lefr_djvu.txt