Latania lontaroides

(Gaertn.) H. E. Moore

Red latern palm.

Arecaceae Edible: Fruit 118 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Latania lontaroides is a species of palm tree. It is endemic to Réunion. It is also used as an ornamental plant. Its common names include the Red Latan, latanier de la Réunion, and latanier rouge. The armored scale insect Hemiberlesia lataniae was first described from this species of palm, and has since spread around the world and proved to be a serious pest of avocado. This palm was common on Réunion at one time, but the area in which it grows has diminished as land has been cleared for agriculture and for other purposes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being an endangered species in the wild, however it is also grown as an ornamental plant in various parts of the world.

Description

A palm. It has a single stem and grows 12 m tall. The trunk is 25 cm across. It has rings from the scars of fallen leaves. The leaf stalks is 1-1.5 m long. The leaves are round and pointed at the tips. They are 2-3 m long by 3 m wide. The fruit are oval and 7 cm long. They have a single seed.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It needs to be in a sunny location.

Synonyms

Cleophora commersonii (J. F. Gmel.) O. F. CookCleophora lontaroides Gaertn.Latania borbonica Lam.Latania commersonii J. F. Gmel.Latania plagicoma Comm. ex Balf.f.Latania rubra Jacq.Latania vera Voss