I am a South Florida resident and have (2) Royal Palms that seem to be developing some kind of disease. The trunk starts to develop white striations right before the green crown. I had this problem with another palm and it eventually died from a hurricane severing the trunk where these striations were. It appears to cause the tree to weaken and the trunk to eventually rot. I have seen the same thing on several other Royal Palms here in South Florida, so it seems to be fairly common. Does anyone know what this is and if there is a remedy for it? Please see picture. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
If you're refering to the series of pale colored rings on the trunk below the crownshaft, that's where the leaf bases where attached on the old fronds that have fallen away. These are scars but are in no way associated with disease or rot without some kind of interference. Perhaps forum members on the International Palm Society message board could answer specifcs regarding the likelyhood of this happening. These palms have adapted well to hurricane zones and will shed leaves long before a trunk will break (without a weakened, for whatever reason, trunk). Cheers, LPN.