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Glite Dictionary
Roystonea oleracea

Roystonea oleracea

9.9
A tall palm tree from the Caribbean with young leaf buds you can eat called cabbage
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : palma de repollo
  • Chefs prize the tender leaf buds of Roystonea oleracea for use in local dishes.

Examples

  • The towering Roystonea oleracea is a familiar sight along Caribbean avenues.

  • In the Caribbean, locals often enjoy the soft leaf buds of Roystonea oleracea as a flavorful addition to their meals.

  • Many gardeners cultivate Roystonea oleracea for its striking appearance and edible shoots.

  • The Roystonea oleracea is commonly found in tropical regions.

  • Many chefs enjoy cooking with Roystonea oleracea leaves.

  • Chefs prize the tender leaf buds of Roystonea oleracea for use in local dishes.

  • Many gardeners cultivate Roystonea oleracea for its edible shoots, which are used in various recipes.

Synonyms

cabbage palm
vsRoystonea oleracea
  • US
6.1

A palm tree whose young leaf buds are eaten as a vegetable

is the tall West Indian species named for its edible buds rather than food

Surface Forms

Roystonea oleracea singular
Roystonea oleraceas plural

Morphology

Roystonea + oleracea

This is a Latin scientific binomial (genus + species epithet). Even if a learner knows the constituent forms, taxonomic Latin is a specialized naming convention rather than productive English composition, and the epithet 'oleracea' is obscure/specialist rather than a transparent English word, so the everyday meaning of the plant cannot be derived by a B1 learner.

Etymology

Roystonea oleracea is a tall Caribbean palm with a soft bud at the top that people eat like a small 'cabbage'. The name may come from the two parts Roystonea (the palm name) and oleracea (a Latin word meaning 'cabbage-like'), so the name points to the palm's edible shoots.