Palms

The palm family is an ancient group of plants dating from at least the late Mesozoic Era, about 85 million years ago. Palms are flowering plants. Flowering plants have been subdivided into two major groups: the monocotyledons which bear only one seed leaf (cotyledon) and the dicotyledons which bear two seed leaves. Palms are among the most diverse of the families of monocotyledons, surpassed in numbers of genera and species only by the orchid, grass and lily families. The palm family contains about 212 genera and 2,800 species. Palmae is the old scientific name for the palm family and is still occasionally used.

Within the tropics, the palms rank second in economic importance after the grasses. Palms are used for food, oil, fiber, and as ornamentals.