Palm trees are exotic plants native to countries with warmer climates.
With 2600 species, some varieties are suitable for use as houseplants to decorate homes.
The most well-known varieties are the date palm and the coconut tree which has so many useful benefits.
Did you know that not all palm trees are actually trees? They may grow in the form of shrubs and woody vines called lianas. All trees that are called “palm” are not actually of the Arecaceae family. Therefore, a “palm” is a grass giant!
Palm trees are also important symbols of religion. They are mentioned many times in both the Bible and the Quran.
In the Bible, Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. In ancient times, palm symbolizes goodness and victory.
Here are other uses of palm trees which are one of the most widely used trees on the planet.
FOR SHELTER
People tend to build their homes out of whatever materials are available. Commonly, people who live in tropical regions build native huts.
Most of these are made out of sticks and branches, with a roof made of palm fronds or grass.
PALM PAPER
A young scientist has made paper from dead palm tree leaves in the UAE. A kilo of palm leaves can yield 80 sheets of A4-sized paper.
He won the silver medal at the International Inventors contest in Kuwait last 2011.
PRODUCTS
Lots of staples come from palm trees and coconuts are the main sproduct of palm trees.
But did you know that dates, betel nuts, and acai fruit all come from palm trees as well?
Palm oil also comes from the fruit’s oil.
COCONUT SHELLS
The shells are carved into all kinds of objects including souvenirs, drinking cups, scoops, or smoking pipe bowl
Charcoal from the shell is also used for cooking.
PALM WINES
There are many traditional distilled palm liquor made from coconut or nipa palm such us bahalina or tuba and lambanog. In some regions of Asia and Africa, “kallu” palm wine is a common alcoholic beverage.
The tallest
The tallest palm tree can grow up to 197 feet tall!
The Quindio wax palm is the tallest-growing species of palm. It is also Colombia’s national tree.
Palm trees live unusually long
It takes about 5 years for a palm tree to grow a trunk.
Within 15 years it can produce coconuts.
At about 70 years the tree stops producing coconuts. One species was found to have lived for 740 years!
Palm trees have important roles in human history. Do you want to share some facts about these plants? Leave them in the comments section of this video.
