Syagrus romanzoffiana

Syagrus romanzoffiana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Arecales
Family:	Arecaceae
Subfamily:	Arecoideae
Tribe:	Cocoeae
Genus:	Syagrus
Species:	S. romanzoffiana
Binomial name
Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman[1]

Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen Palm or Cocos Palm) is a palm native to South America, from northern Argentina north to eastern Brazil and west to eastern Bolivia. It is very similar to the coconut palm. It had been classified within the Cocos genus as Cocos plumosa, was assigned to Arecastrum, then moved to Syagrus. As a result of the nomenclature confusion, they often retain a previous, incorrect name in popular usage. It is a medium-sized palm, growing to 15 m tall, with pinnate leaves.

Cultivation and uses

The Queen Palm is found in most tropical and subtropical areas. It's very popular as an ornamental tree and much used in urban landscaping. However, the fronds die early and must be pruned to keep the tree visually pleasing. The sheaths of the pruned fronds remain on the tree for several months and are an ideal breeding place for snails and caterpillars. Its leaves and inflorescences are used as cattle fodder, specially for milking cows. Its fruits are edible, being sought by birds, as well as by mammals, including some wild canids, such as the Pampas Fox^[2] and the Crab-eating Fox.^[3] The fruits consist of a hard nut surrounded with a thin layer of fibrous flesh that is orange and sticky when ripe. The flavor is sweet and could be described as a mixture of plum and banana.

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  Inflorescence and infructescence

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  closer view

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  Ripe fruit

References

1. ^ "Syagrus romanzoffiana information from NPGS/GRIN". www.ars-grin.gov. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?103123. Retrieved 2008-03-16. 
2. ^ BACKES, Paulo & IRGANG, Bruno,Mata Atlântica: as árvores e a paisagem, Porto Alegre, Paisagem do Sul, 2004, pg.133
3. ^ ROCHA, Vlamir, REIS, Nelio R dos & SEKIAMA, Margareth l.- "Dieta e dispersão de sementes por Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus) (Carnívora, Canidae), em um fragmento florestal no Paraná, Brasil, www.scielo.br/pdf/rbzool/v21n4/22951.pdf

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Syagrus romanzoffiana
• PACSOA: Syagrus romanzoffiana