Syagrus romanzoffiana

Syagrus romanzoffiana

The the queen palm or cocos palm or Jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman, 1968) is a tree species belonging to the Arecaceae family.

Systematics –
Domain Eukaryota,
Kingdom Plantae,
Suborder Tracheobionta,
Superdivision Spermatophyta,
Division Magnoliophyta,
Class Liliopsida,
Order Arecales,
Family Arecaceae,
Subfamily Arecoideae,
Tribe Cocoseae,
Subtribe Butiinae,
Genus Syagrus,
Species S. romanzoffiana.
Two varieties are recognized within this species:
– Cocos romanzoffiana var. australe Becc.;
– Cocos romanzoffiana var. romanzoffiana.
The following terms are a basionym:
– Cocos romanzoffiana Cham.
The following terms are synonymous:
– Arecastrum romanzoffianum (Cham.) Becc.;
– Arecastrum romanzoffianum var. australe (Mart.) Becc.;
– Arecastrum romanzoffianum var. genuinum Becc.;
– Arecastrum romanzoffianum var. micropindo Becc.;
– Arecastrum romanzoffianum var. romanzoffianum;
– Calappa acrocomioides (Drude) Kuntze;
– Calappa australis (Mart.) Kuntze;
– Calappa datil (Drude & Griseb.) Kuntze;
– Calappa martiana (Drude & Glaz.) Kuntze;
– Calappa plumosa (Hook.f.) Kuntze;
– Calappa romanzoffiana (Cham.) Kuntze;
– Cocos acrocomioides Drude;
– Cocos arechavaletana Barb.Rodr.;
– Cocos australis Drude & Brandt;
– Cocos australis Mart.;
– Cocos datil Drude & Griseb.;
– Cocos geriba Barb.Rodr.;
– Cocos martiana Drude & Glaz.;
– Cocos plumosa Hook.f.;
– Cocos romanzoffiana var. plumosa (Lodd. ex Hook.) A.Berger;
– Syagrus plumosa (Hook.f.) Bosse.

Etymology –
The genus name Syagrus derives from the Greek συαγρος (syagros), “wild boar,” an animal that fed on the fruits of this palm in its native regions. According to Pliny, syagri were Mediterranean palms whose fruits were not as valuable as dates and were therefore intended for animals. Another hypothesis links the name to the union of the Greek terms skaphe (“concave”) and glotta (“tongue”), referring to the woody spathe that protects the flowers.
The epithet romanzoffiana is dedicated to Nikolai Rumyantsev (1754–1826), Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire and financier of explorations, including the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe.

Geographical Distribution and Habitat –
Syagrus romanzoffiana is a palm native to southern South America; it grows wild in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, particularly in the Gran Chaco.
Its habitat is diverse, as it grows in a variety of environments: seasonally dry forests, swamps, coastal forests, and along river or sea shores, even reaching higher elevations.
The plant has become naturalized in several extratropical areas: Florida, Queensland (Australia), Honduras, and Mauritius. In some of these areas, it is considered invasive. Today, it is also widely cultivated in Mediterranean regions, particularly along the Italian Riviera and the French Riviera.

Description –
Syagrus romanzoffiana is an evergreen species with a single, unbranched stem that can reach 15–25 m in height and 30–60 cm in diameter. The grayish trunk is marked by ring-shaped scars from fallen leaves.
The leaves, 2–4 m long, are arched, pinnate, and composed of approximately 300 downward-curving leaflets, giving them a feathery appearance.
The inflorescences, up to 90 cm long, are intrafoliar, branched, and protected by a woody spathe; the flowers are white or creamy yellow, monoecious.
The fruits, 1–2 cm ovoid drupes, ripen in clusters from late summer to autumn, turning from green to yellow-orange. The pulp is fibrous, sweet, edible, and contains a spherical seed.

Cultivation –
Syagrus romanzoffiana is a widespread ornamental palm in tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean climates.
It is cold-hardy, tolerating brief frosts down to -5°C.
From a pedological standpoint, it prefers well-drained, acidic to neutral, nutrient-rich soil with good humidity.
It prefers full sun as an adult, but seedlings require partial shade.
Growth is rapid, with good transplant tolerance even for large specimens.
Propagation is via fresh seeds, which germinate in 2–6 months if kept at 25–35°C.
Maintenance requires removing dry leaves; fallen fruit can attract insects.
The main diseases are:
– Ganoderma zonatum (trunk rot).
– Ceratocystis paradoxa (top rot).
– Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. palmarum → leaf necrosis and crown death.

Uses and Traditions –
Syagrus romanzoffiana was initially described as Cocos romanzoffiana and became known as Cocos plumosa, a name still used in some ornamental contexts.
It is known by various common names, including: “the queen palm,” “cocos palm,” or “Jerivá” (English); “palmera pindó” [“ybá pitá” or “Mbokaja aka” (Spanish); palma regina (Italian).
The plant, in addition to its ornamental uses, is used for fodder; in Brazil and Argentina, the leaves and inflorescences are used as cattle feed during periods of drought.
In human consumption, the edible fruits have a sweet flavor (between plum and banana), eaten fresh or processed;
the apical bud (palm heart) is eaten raw, pickled, or preserved in oil (harvesting kills the plant);
Sago is also produced from the trunk.
In traditional medicine, the fruits are macerated in wine or syrup and used as a pectoral.
Among other uses, the leaves and fibers are used for baskets and hats; the trunks for water pipes and rustic buildings; and wood resistant to salt water for walkways and piers.

Preparation –
The fruits of Syagrus romanzoffiana are generally eaten fresh, but are sometimes also used in the preparation of syrups or macerated in wine, enriching it with unique aromas. The apical buds, on the other hand, are appreciated in the kitchen: they can be cooked like a normal vegetable, or preserved in vinegar or oil, thus becoming a tasty and long-lasting food. The leaves and inflorescences also have important uses, especially as fodder, both fresh and dried, to supplement animal feed.
In addition to its culinary uses, the plant provides useful materials for crafts: the fibers are woven to make simple yet functional everyday objects. Finally, thanks to their strength, the wood and trunks can be hollowed out to create water pipes or used in small constructions, thus demonstrating the versatility of every part of the plant.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (eds.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and Experiences with Medicinal Herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/511359481/original.jpg

Warning: The pharmaceutical applications and dietary uses are provided for informational purposes only and do not in any way constitute medical prescriptions. We therefore decline any responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic, or nutritional purposes.