Large solitary palm often retaining a few dead leaves at the crown. Trunk to 20 m tall, 20 cm wide, dark grey, woody. Leaves 2-4 m long in a rounded crown. Leaflets dark green, narrow, clustered around the axis in 3s and 4s to form several ranks, finely tapered. Leaf stalks broad-based and swollen, being a prominent feature at the base of the crown. Panicles with many large, creamy, conspicuous, flowers. Fruit yellow to orange, ovoid, 2.5-4 cm long, in large dense clusters. [Arecastrum romanzoffianum Mart., Cocos plumosus of horticulture]
South America
One of the most commonly grown of all palms from the tropics to temperate zones. Fast growing and hightly adaptable. Needs a sunny location. Becoming naturalised in southern Queensland.
Leaves with leaflets to about 1 m long and in several ranked clusters, giving them a plumose appearance.
Less commonly cultivated species include:
S. botryophora (Mart.) Glassman from Brazil is a large solitary palm. Trunk to 15 m tall, 25 cm wide. Leaves in a rounded crown. Leaflets dark green, arranged in two ranks. Excellent palm for coastal districts. Needs sun and excellent drainage. Tolerates light to moderate frosts.
S. schizophylla (Mart.) Glassman, Arikury Palm from Brazil, is a small solitary palm.Trunk to 3 m tall, 20 cm wide, with blackish leaf bases. Leaves to 3 m long, arching. Leaflets bright green to dark green, arranged in 1 plane. Panicles about 1 m long, from among the lower leaves. Fruit about 2.5 cm long, orange. Small hardy palm excellent as a tub plant or in gardens. Will grow in warm temperate zones. [Arikuryroba schizophylla Mart.]
Source: (2005). Arecaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.