10 Surprising Facts about Palm Trees
by Gregory Palm Farms.
1. There are over 2,500 species of palm trees. The Arecaceae family of plants includes wonderfully diverse species found throughout the world, from the desert to the rainforest.
2. Not all palm trees are "trees," and not all plants called "palms" are truly palms. These evergreen plants can grow in the form of shrubs, trees or long, woody vines called lianas. Plants like the yucca palm, Torbay palm (pictured right), sago palm and traveler's palm are not part of the Arecaceae family.
3. Palm trees have two different types of leaves: palmate and pinnate. Palmate leaves, like hands, grow in a bunch at the end of a stem. Pinnate leaves are like feathers, growing all along either side of a stem.
4. Palm trees are important religious symbols. In the Bible, the people of Jerusalem greeted a triumphant Jesus just one week before his death and resurrection, a tradition now known and celebrated as Palm Sunday the week before Easter. Palms are mentioned dozens of times in both the Bible and the Quran. In Judaism, palms represent peace and plenty.
5. Lots of staples come from palm trees. Coconuts are an obvious product of palm trees, but did you know that dates, betel nuts and acai fruit all come from palm trees as well? Palm oil, as its name indicates, also comes from the fruit of the oil palm tree.
6. Palm Trunks. Most Palms feature tall, cylindrical trunks that look very similar to a columns or pillars. In some types, the trunk includes hooked prickles, while others boast smooth trunks with very few markings.
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| The Quindio Wax Palm |
7. The tallest palm tree can grow up to 197 feet tall! The Quindio wax palm (seen above), Colombia's national tree, is the tallest-growing species of palm.
8. The coco de mer palm tree has the largest seeds of any plant on Earth. The seeds can be as large as 20 inches in diameter and as heavy as 66 pounds!
9. Palm trees have a history with humans as old as the first societies. Archeological finds have shown that the date palm was commonly used in Mesopotamian society, for food and other purposes. Romans gave palm branches as a symbol of triumph to the triumphant champions of games and wars.
10. Have you ever heard of palm wine? Yeah! Also called "kallu," palm wine is a common alcoholic spirit in regions of Asia and Africa. It can be created from coconut palms, date palms, the Chilean wine palm, and other species.
Interested in owning your own Palm Tree? Contact Gregory Palm Farms to schedule an appointment to find the perfect Palm for your landscaping enjoyment. (714) 814-8525
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