Wild coconut palm

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Queen Palm
• giriba palm

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calappa plumosa
• Calappa datil
• Arecastrum romanzoffianum var. australe
• Cocos romanzoffiana var. plumosa
• Calappa romanzoffiana
• Arecastrum romanzoffianum
• Arecastrum romanzoffianum var. micropindo
• Cocos australis
• Cocos datil
• Cocos martiana
• Cocos romanzoffiana
• Syagrus plumosa
• Cocos geriba
• Calappa martiana
• Cocos acrocomioides
• Calappa australis
• Cocos arechavaletana
• Calappa acrocomioides
• Arecastrum romanzoffianum subvar. minus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Arecales and the family Arecaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Syagrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution across several continents. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in Mauritius. Its presence extends to Australia, specifically within the regions of New South Wales and Queensland. Moving across the globe, the species is also located in the Southeastern United States, particularly in Florida. Finally, its range reaches into Central America, where it is documented in El Salvador.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Syagrus romanzoffiana is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a vast altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching 2600 m AMSL. This species exhibits high ecological plasticity, inhabiting a diverse array of ecosystems including Anthropic Areas, Campo de Altitude, Campo de Várzea, and Campo Rupestre. It is frequently found within various forest structures, such as Riparian or Gallery Forests, Seasonal Deciduous Forests, Perennial Seasonal Forests, Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests, Ombrophilous (Rain) Forests, and Ombrophilous Seasonal Forests. Despite its wide distribution across these varied landscapes, the plant does not possess specific specialized defense mechanisms.

Defense :

no

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Altitude, Campo de Várzea, Campo Rupestre, Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mi

Life history

The life history of Syagrus romanzoffiana is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated above the ground level, a structural adaptation that defines its primary life form. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present throughout the year without a seasonal shedding period.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Syargus romanzoffiana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as an independent organism, lacking parasitic tendencies. This terrestrial species exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is capable of reaching significant dimensions, with a mean plant height of 16.25 m, ranging from a minimum of 10 m to a maximum of 20 m. While it possesses self-supporting structural characteristics, its shoot length can extend up to 1700 cm. Furthermore, the plant displays substantial secondary growth, with a maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 50 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

DBH max:

50 cm

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

16.25 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Shoot length max:

1700 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Syagrus romanoffiana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of many tropical species operating under standard atmospheric conditions. The plant's structural integrity is supported by a stem specific density (SSD) that remains consistent at a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 810 mg/cm³. Its foliage exhibits a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 394.32 cm²/g, reflecting a specific leaf morphology optimized for light interception. The leaf dry matter content (LDMC) is uniformly measured at 468.4 mg/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum ranges, suggesting a highly stable internal leaf tissue density. Morphologically, the leaves are notable for reaching a maximum length of 580 cm, though they do not possess leaf spines. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external nutrient availability within its ecosystem.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

468.4 mg/g

Leaf length max:

580 cm

Leaf spines :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

394.32 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

810 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Syagrus romanzoffiana is driven by biotic pollination processes, primarily involving insects and specifically bees. The flowering stage features inflorescences that can reach a minimum length of 0.1 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy, orange-colored fruits. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 2.75 cm (ranging from 2 to 3 cm) and a mean width of 1.5 cm (ranging from 1.2 to 1.8 cm). The dispersal of the plant follows a zoochorous syndrome, where animals play a key role in spreading the seeds. The seeds themselves are relatively substantial, characterized by a mean mass of 3.4505 g (with a range between 2.801 and 4.1 g) and a mean volume of approximately 8133.33 mm³ (ranging from a minimum of 5600 mm³ to a maximum of 8900 mm³).

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit colour :

orange

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.75 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit width max:

1.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.5 cm

Fruit width min:

1.2 cm

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

4.1 g

Seed mass mean:

3.4505 g

Seed mass min:

2.801 g

Seed volume max:

8900 mm³

Seed volume mean:

8133.33333333333 mm³

Seed volume min:

5600 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Syagrus romanzoffiana has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Chemicals

Syagrus romanzoffiana has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include FAT, Fatty acids, Lignans, SFA, Scyllitol.

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Fatty acids

1. Natural product research

Lignans

1. Natural product research

SFA

1. Dr. Duke

Scyllitol

1. Dr. Duke

UFA

1. Dr. Duke

flavonols

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Syagrus romanzoffiana has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer disease, chronic diseases, infections.

Alzheimer disease

1. Natural product research

Chronic diseases

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Infections

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Syagrus romanzoffiana has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract of the seeds, polyphenol-rich butanol-soluble fraction of the seeds.

Ethanol extract of the seeds

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Polyphenol-rich butanol-soluble fraction of the seeds

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA