palm
Among the most useful of all plants, palms provide a wide variety of products. There are more than 2,000 different types of palms.
Most palms are found in tropical forests. The rain forests of Central and South America and of New Guinea and the Sunda Islands have the most number of palm species.
Palms can be found from lowlands to mountain forests up to heights of about 5,905 feet (1,800 meters) above sea level. A few palms, such as the wax palm, grow at heights of about 9,842 feet (about 3,000 meters) in the Andes.
Some palms are found in swamps or poorly drained areas. Examples of these are the bussu palm, date palm, sago palm, and raffia palm. Some palms, such as the nipa palm, are found around salty estuaries and lagoons. Palms also occur in deserts or on seashores where underground water is present. Examples of these are the doum palm and coconut palm.
Palms usually have a tall, unbranched stem, or trunk, in the shape of a column that ends in a tuft of leaves. In many palms the trunk is as tall as 200 feet (60 meters). It may be smooth or marked with circular scars where old leaves have dropped off. The trunk may vary in thickness. In some species it may measure 3 feet (0.9 meter) across. In others it may only be as thick as a pencil. Sometimes the trunk is so short that the palm is said to be stemless. In many species of palms the trunk is covered with a dense network of stiff fibers. These fibers are useful for making ropes.
Palm leaves are firm, pleated, and fan- or feather-shaped. They often have prickly stalks. Sometimes the leaves may be arranged into a cover along the trunk. The size of the leaves varies widely. Some are only a few inches long, while those of the raffia palm may grow to be 65 feet (20 meters). These leaves are the longest in the plant kingdom. Palm leaves are often covered with hairs or spines. Sometimes they are coated with fairly thick deposits of wax.
The flowers of most palm species are less than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in length. The fruit of the palm may be dry or fleshy. Palm fruits vary in size, shape, and structure. Some are covered with a series of overlapping scales. For example, the coconut has a thick casing of fibers known as the husk.
The coco-de-mer, or double coconut, found only on the islands of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, is among the largest fruits in the plant kingdom. It may be larger than a human head and weigh up to 40 pounds (18 kilograms). It contains a pair of seeds that resemble two coconuts joined together.
Palms have great economic value. For centuries palms have provided most of the necessities of life for humans in the tropics. Native palm products contribute substantially to local economies. For example, the leaves from various palms are made into umbrellas, writing materials, rain capes, baskets, hats, and hammocks. The palms with the greatest commercial importance are the African oil palm, which provides palm and kernel oil, and the coconut.
The coconut is one of the most important crops of the tropics because almost every part of it can be used. The husk is the source of coir, which is a stiff, coarse fiber. Coir is used to make ropes and mats. The hard shell is used as fuel and to make charcoal, cups, bottles, and trinkets. Coconut water, or the liquid inside the nut, is a tasty beverage. The edible pulp of the coconut, known as meat, can be eaten raw or cooked. It may also be grated, mixed with water, and pressed to obtain coconut milk. Coconut meat is also dried to form copra, which is a source of oil used for food preparation and industrial purposes. The trunk of the coconut is used in construction work and to make furniture.
Other palms are also used extensively. Sugar and alcohol are obtained from the sap of the flower stalks of the sugar palm. Wine is made from a species of the raffia palm in Africa. Fibers from various parts of the palmyra palm are made into brooms and mats. Its fruits and seeds can be eaten. The long stems of the rattan palm are used in furniture.
The fruit of the date palm is a staple food and a trade item in parts of West Asia, Arabian Peninsula, and North Africa. A single date palm tree may produce as much as 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of dates each year for 100 years or more.
Finally, palms are also extensively planted for their ornamental effect. The royal palm is a beautiful species native to the southeastern United States. It grows to about 100 feet (30 meters) and has graceful, feathery leaves and a smooth, pale gray trunk.
