Category:Syagrus romanzoffiana of 7th Brigade Park, Chermside

Syagrus romanzoffiana, the queen or cocos palm, grows along Downfall Creek and in forest remnants sheltered from fire in 7th Brigade Park. Syagrus romanzoffiana palms were widely planted as ornamentals in Queensland in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. A very tall specimen grew by the Jefferis St gate of Virginia State School in the 1960s. Pupils referred to it as the 'monkey nut palm' on account of the 'monkey face' pattern on the endocarp. It is likely that the Syagrus romanzoffiana palms along Downfall Creek and in its vicinity are descendants of the Virginia tree as the schoolyard is adjacent to Downfall Creek. Syagrus romanzoffiana appears to be dispersed by Pteropus species fruit bats. The fruit is too large for the gape of most local birds. Fruit bats will Chew the succulent exocarp in flight or while perched and then discard the stony endocarp.