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Glite Dictionary
Roystonea regia

Roystonea regia

9.4
A tall palm tree with a smooth trunk and long feathery leaves
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : palma real
  • In Cuba, the Roystonea regia is often called the royal palm.

Examples

  • The Roystonea regia lined the street, creating a grand tropical avenue.

  • The elegant crown of the Roystonea regia is a distinctive feature in Cuban landscapes.

  • Botanists were excited to discover a mature Roystonea regia in the wild.

  • The Roystonea regia is a stunning palm tree.

  • The Roystonea regia stands majestically in the garden, showcasing its tall, slender trunk.

  • Visitors admired the beautiful fronds of the Roystonea regia during their trip to southern Florida.

  • In many parks, the Roystonea regia is planted for its striking appearance and tropical ambiance.

Synonyms

royal palm
vsRoystonea regia
  • US
1 5.6

A tall palm tree with long feathery leaves and a smooth straight trunk

is the formal botanical name rather than the everyday name

Surface Forms

Roystonea regia singular
Roystonea regias plural

Morphology

Roystonea + regia

This is a Latin binomial: Roystonea names a genus of tall palms while regia is a Latin species epithet meaning ‘royal’ (the latter is not an ordinary English word). The overall meaning (‘royal palm’) is inferable if the learner knows taxonomic naming conventions or the Latin epithet, but because regia is technical/foreign and the form is specialized, the transparency is partial.

Etymology

Roystonea regia may come from a mix of a person's name and a Latin word. One popular story says the first part Roystonea honors a man called Roy Stone, while the second part regia means 'royal' because the tall palm looks like it wears a crown at the top. That's why people call it the 'royal palm' today.