Wild Florida Palms

[Justin P]

I have long loved Florida native flora, especially palms and orchids. Here are some shots I have taken.

I took these photos of wild Roystonea elata a few months ago in the Fakahatchee Strand (western Big Cypress/Everglades). The palm at the base is of course Sabal palmetto.

It is hard to get scale from the shots, but these are huge. There are 100s, if not 1,000s of them in this area. Here is a shot of one with a Florida native Encyclia tampensis (Butterfly Orchid) growing on it:

Some Sabal palmetto:

[Justin P]

Serenoa repens:

Acoelorrhaphe wrightii with very wet feet:

[Justin P]

I don't want to depart from palms too much, but if you happen to have interest in Florida's native orchids, I have some photos on this site: here.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Justin, great pics.... I think you can depart from palms if only for a bit to keep this thread going. Thanks for sharing them.

What were you doin in Fakahatchee? Photo safari?

[Justin P]

Justin, great pics.... I think you can depart from palms if only for a bit to keep this thread going. Thanks for sharing them.

What were you doin in Fakahatchee? Photo safari?

Thanks for the kind words. I spend a lot of time in the Fakahatchee searching for and photographing native palms, plants and orchids. You may be aware that it is a hot spot for them, 42 species are found in the 20 miles north to south, 3-5 mile wide park. The most famous of the orchids is the Ghost (Polyradicion lindenii), but there are tons of other very brilliant orchids found there. The only non-palm shot I am going to post:

I searched six years to find one of these in bloom! Happened to find about 30 in the same year, ironically.

The only other place in the world this species is found is in Cuba... But don't even get me started on Cuba. Talk about bio-diversity and the (in my opinion) greatest selection of palms.

[rozpalm]

Wow Justin those are some great shots. I love the one titled "Savannas in Golden Light". That picture shold be framed and hung on a wall.

[Chris K.]

Great representation of one of Florida's last wild and ecologically diverse places. How would the strand be for a day trip ? Are there accessible trails/tours available. Thanks

[palmcurry]

Excellent photography, Justin. I grew up in Florida(Naples) and those pics bring me back home. Post more if ya can.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Justin, thanks for the beautiful photos!

[Exotic Life]

Great pictures for sure! Thanks for sharing.

[peachy]

Wow Justin, what superb photos !! The shot of the sabals in that golden light is an award winner in my book. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Peachy

[Moose]

Justin - thanks for posting the pictures, it brings back memories I spent many a wet foot hour there in my twenties. Never have I found the ghost orchid in bloom, great photo op. I used to have a hunting camp in Golden Gate (the blocks) north of the strand in the 1980's. The development in the area has deminished that activity somewhat.

The Roystonea elata are very impressive. You are correct that the pictures can not depict the scale of these massive palms nor do it justice. They need to be observed in this habitat in person. The Roystonia elata was recognized has a distict species for years, but has now been re-classified as a Roystonea regia by Dr Scott Zona after DNA analysis I believe. It is my opinion that the "elata" has a whiter less robust trunk than "regia" and may in fact grow taller. This palm deserves to be identified as Roystonea regia var. elata.

Ron.

[Creekside]

Justin, those are drop dead gorgeous photos. Thank you for sharing, you're a great palm photographer!

[Eric in Orlando]

Those royals are incredible !!!

[PalmatierMeg]

Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.

[palmmermaid]

Justin,

Wonderful photos! I, too, love the one with the orange glow on the sabals.

If you all have never done a swamp walk in the Fakahatchee you must do so. It is truly an incredible place. And the royals are so beautiful. Look for all sorts of rare plant species there. It is how Florida looked when the first settlers came here.

And, yes, it is certainly worth a day trip.

[edric]

Great pics Jason, Ed

[redant]

I don't want to depart from palms too much, but if you happen to have interest in Florida's native orchids, I have some photos on this site: here.

The pictures on the link are equally outstanding.

[brodklop]

Justin,

Great photos. Thanks for posting.

Has anyone in Florida grown the native royal next to a Cuban royal to see any differences in growth habits and looks.

Many years back I received seed of R.elata and it grew fast but it didn't look to much different from other royals around the place.

What has been the experience of others.

Any photos of Tillandsias in flower.

Regards

Brod

[bubba]

Justin, WOW! Also got to agree with the elata comment.

[JasonD]

It's great to know that there are 100s - 1000s of Roystoneas there. I must go the next time I'm in So. Florida.

[Jonathan]

Very amazing photo's, and nice to see some shots of North American nature still intact.

Anyone who ever doubted the beauty of Sabals, will be forced to think again now!

I never doubted....

Cheers,

Jonathan

[Kathryn]

Here are some Florida palms from Jelks Preserve on the west coast. No royals but lots of Sabal and Serenoa.

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

Does anybody know of a good source of seeds for the Florida Royal? I would really like to grow some of our only native Royal. I would like to know of a place where I could collect my own when I am in Florida next month and also a mail order source for them too.

Thanks,

John

[Zeeth]

Does anybody know of a good source of seeds for the Florida Royal? I would really like to grow some of our only native Royal. I would like to know of a place where I could collect my own when I am in Florida next month and also a mail order source for them too.

Thanks,

John

When you are in Fl, you will see Royals everywhere from Melbourne south on the east coast, and Bradenton south on the west. They are north of these areas, but not as common. If you look under mature royals, good seed will be purple and squishy. Hard seeds aren't any good. You can usually get a few hundred per tree. There aren't any available now, but Rarepalmseeds.com usually has them.

Keith

[Kris]

Dear Justin

beautiful photography and iam impressed !

Thanks & Love,

kris

[Mark Heath]

Justin,

Great photos. Thanks for posting.

Has anyone in Florida grown the native royal next to a Cuban royal to see any differences in growth habits and looks.

Many years back I received seed of R.elata and it grew fast but it didn't look to much different from other royals around the place.

What has been the experience of others.

Any photos of Tillandsias in flower.

Regards

Brod

Brod,

I have a large Regia and a large Elata. I know, they have been put together as Regia!! But, the difference i see between my two is that the Florida Elata is a lighter shade of green. I give them both the same treatment water/fertilizer and the Regia is much darker in color and has a thicker trunk.

Unfortunatly they're not planted together so i can't help you w/ that.