Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mangrove-lined lagoon
Trees and Flowers
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Royal Palms
moist, sandy soils and is found
all along Puerto Rico's shores.
Native to Asia, it was introduced
to the Americas in 1542. Virtually
every part of the coconut palm
is used by humans,
including the large
nut with its
delicious meat and
refreshing juice.
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Poinsettias
The stately
palma real
towers 82 ft (25 m) and has
a silvery trunk that is slightly
bulbous at the top. Its fronds
are used for thatch, its
seeds are used as
pig feed, and the soft
and succulent palm
heart from the center of
the trunk is a delicacy
used in salads.
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Sierra Palms
Originally indigenous
to Mexico, these perennial
flowering shrubs, known
as
pascuas
, are popular
during Christmas because
of their flame-red and green
leaves, although they can also
be white or pink.
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Mangroves
The “mountain
palm” is indigenous to the
region and lives above an
elevation of 1,640 ft (500 m).
Its exposed buttress roots,
similar to those of mangroves,
are an unusual feature that help
the sierra palm cling to steep
terrain and unstable soil.
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Coconut Palms
A pink
poinsettia
Five species of mangroves
(manglares)
thrive along the
island's shores, forming tangled
forests that trap sediment and
prevent coastal erosion. Their
stilt roots rise above the water,
forming labyrinthine creeks
that are vital nurseries for
marine life.
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Jacarandas
The undisputed symbol of
the Caribbean is the slender
coconut palm, which thrives in
Remarkable for their
springtime flowering, when
purple-blue blossoms burst
forth, with a peak in April,
jacarandas are often used
to brighten up Puerto
Rico's urban parks and
highway medians. The
trees' prized timber is
coveted by carpenters.
Coconut palms on the coast
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