Archontophoenix alexandrae (Alexandra Palm)

Native to Queensland in eastern Australia, this tall, solitary palm grows in wet areas, including lowland swamps and rainforest beside streams. Its gray trunk has prominent rings left by fallen leaves, while a smooth green crownshaft supports a crown of feather-like fronds. The leaflets are dark green above and silvery beneath. Branched clusters of cream-colored flowers develop below the crownshaft and are followed by small red fruits. It is widely cultivated and has become naturalized in Hawaii, where it is classified as a high invasion risk. Photographed in Colombia.