Palms - Distribution, Structure, Food, Oil, Fiber, Ornamentals - Economic uses
plants family genera families
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.
Additional Topics
Palms are widely distributed throughout moist tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They can be found in steamy rain forests, deserts, mangrove swamps, and high mountain thickets. Palms are uncommon in hot, dry regions, however, occurring only where there is a constant source of underground water. The distribution of palms in the tropics is uneven. The greatest diversity of palms is in th…
Palms are mostly unbranched shrubs or trees, and are the main tree family within the monocotyleons. Typically the solitary erect stem is crowned by large, persistent leaves that are sheathing at the base. The leaves of Raphia fainifera are the largest of any flowering plant, sometimes reaching more than 65 ft (20 m). Palm leaves are occasionally simple, but usually they are dissected into a fan sh…
Dates are the fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and have been in cultivation for at least 8,000 years. Most dates are grown in Asia Minor and North Africa with an annual production of 2,000,000 metric tons. In the United States dates are grown in Arizona and California. Dates contain 70% carbohydrate but little protein (2%) or fat (2.5%). They have long been an important source of nouri…
A number of palms are major sources of edible oils that are refined into cooking oil, margarine, and shortening. Palm oils are also used in the manufacture of candles, soaps, lubricating greases, and stabilizers in plastic and rubber compounds. The African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is the single most important oil-producing palm, having recently surpassed the coconut. The African oil palm is a …
Palms are a symbol of the tropics and many have been selected and grown for their beauty. The royal palm (Roystonea regia) is a tall, elegant palm that is commonly planted along streets and boulevards in cities throughout the tropics and subtropics, including the southern United States. The sentinel palm of southern California (Washingtonia filifera) is also widely planted as an ornamental. Perhap…
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