Roystonea

plant genus

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July 15, 2026

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The genus Roystonea comprises several species of pinnately-leaved palms, primarily found in the Caribbean region. These palms are known for their tall, graceful appearance, often featuring smooth, sometimes spindle-shaped stems and large, elegant leaves. A notable example is Roystonea regia, a species native to Cuba that is widely cultivated for ornamental purposes.12

Unlike woody broad-leaved plants, palm stems do not thicken through new cell production at a cambium layer. Instead, any thickening, as seen in royal palms (Roystonea), is due to an increase in the number or size of internal cells. The stems of palms are typically erect and can be solitary or clustered, with a structure that allows them to withstand strong winds.3

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palm
Trunks and stems
…in the royal palms (Roystonea) or in the few that produce conspicuous swellings or “bellies” such as Colpothrinax, it is due to an increase in number or size of internal cells and not to new cell production at a cambium, or growing, layer. The cortex, or “bark,” may be…
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…in the royal palms (Roystonea) or in the few that produce conspicuous swellings or “bellies” such as Colpothrinax, it is due to an increase in number or size of internal cells and not to new cell production at a cambium, or growing, layer. The cortex, or “bark,” may be…
Read More