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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Arecaceae (palm family)
| image = 1859-Martinique.web.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Coconut Palm ''Cocos nucifera''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Arecales]]
| familia = '''Arecaceae'''
| familia_authority = Schultz-Schultzenstein
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
Many; see [[list of Arecaceae genera]]
}}
'''Arecaceae''' (sometimes known by the names '''Palmae''' or '''Palmaceae''', although the latter name is taxonomically invalid.<ref>"Palmaceae" is not accepted because the name Arecaceae (and its acceptable alternative Palmae, [http://www.bgbm.org/IAPT/Nomenclature/Code/SaintLouis/0022Ch3Sec2a018.htm ICBN Art. 18.5]) are conserved over other names for the family. </ref>), the Palm Family, is a family of [[flowering plant]]s belonging to the [[Monocotyledon|monocot]] order, '''Arecales'''. There are roughly 202 currently known [[Genus|genera]] with around 2600 [[species]], most of which are restricted to [[tropics|tropical]] or [[subtropics|subtropical]] climates. Most palms are distinguished by their large, compound, [[evergreen]] [[leaf|leaves]] arranged at the top of an unbranched stem. However, many palms are exceptions to this statement, and palms in fact exhibit an enormous diversity in physical characteristics. As well as being morphologically diverse, palms also inhabit nearly every type of [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]] within their range, from [[rainforest]]s to [[desert]]s.
Palms are one of the most well-known and extensively cultivated plant families. They have had an important role to humans throughout much of history. Many common products and foods are derived from palms, and palms are also widely used in landscaping for their exotic appearance making them one of the most economically important plants. In many historical cultures, palms were symbols for such ideas as victory, peace, and fertility. Today, palms remain a popular symbol for the tropics and [[vacation]]s <ref>[http://www.palms.org/palmsjournal/2001/landscaping.htm Landscaping with Palms in the Mediterranean]</ref>.
==Characteristics and evolution==
===Range===
The vast majority of palms live in the [[tropics]]. Palms are abundant throughout the tropical regions around the world, and are present in almost every type of habitat in the tropics. Diversity is highest in wet, lowland tropical forests, especially in ecological "hotspots" such as [[Madagascar]], which has more endemic palms than the entire continental [[Africa]]. [[Colombia]] may have the highest number of palm species in one country <ref name="conservatory">[http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/education/palms.htm Conservatory of Flowers]</ref>.
It is estimated that only 130 palm species grow naturally beyond the tropics, most of which grow in the [[subtropics]]. The northernmost palm is ''[[Chamaerops|Chamaerops humilis]]'', which reaches 44°N latitude in southern [[France]], where the local [[Mediterranean climate]] is milder than other places as far north. The southernmost palm is the ''[[Nikau|Rhopalostylis sapida]]'', which reaches 44°S on the [[Chatham Islands]] where an [[oceanic climate]] has a similar warming effect <ref name="FAO">[http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X0451E/X0451e03.htm Tropical Palms by Food and Agriculture Organization]</ref>.
===Morphology and habitat===
[[Image:Washingtonia filifera in Palm Canyon.jpg|250px|thumb|left|This grove of ''[[Washingtonia filifera]]'' in [[Palm Canyon]], [[California]] is growing alongside a stream running through the desert.]]
The growth habit of palms is usually a straight, unbranched stem, and rarely a [[dichotomy|dichotomous]] branching stem or a creeping vine-like habit ([[liana]]) <ref>[http://www.dipbot.unict.it/palms/Arec_fam.html Arecaceae - Università di Catania]</ref>. They have large evergreen [[leaf|leaves]] that are either palmately ('fan-leaved') or pinnately ('feather-leaved') compound and spirally arranged at the top of the stem. The leaves ha
ve a tubular sheath at the base that usually splits open on one side at maturity <ref>[http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/arec.htm Arecaceae - University of Hawaii Botany]</ref>. The [[inflorescence]] is a [[panicle]] or [[raceme|spike]] surrounded by one or more [[bract]]s or [[spadix|spathe]]s that become woody at maturity. The [[flower]]s are generally small and white, radially symmetric, and can be either uni- or bisexual. The sepals and petals usually number three each and may be distinct or joined at the base. The stamens generally number six, with filaments that may be separate, attached to each other, or attached to the pistil at the base. The [[fruit]] is usually a single-[[seed]]ed [[drupe]] <ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10061 Arecaceae in Flora of North America]</ref>, but some genera (e.g. ''[[Salacca]]'') may contain two or more seeds in each fruit.
Palms inhabit a variety of habitats. Over two-thirds of palms live in tropical forests, where some species grow tall enough to form part of the [[canopy]] and other shorter palms adapted to shade form part of the [[understory]] <ref name="VPEintro">[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/introduction/vpe_introduction.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Introduction]</ref>. Some species form pure stands in areas with poor drainage or regular flooding, including ''[[Raphia hookeri]]'' which is common in coastal freshwater swamps in West Africa. Other palms live in tropical montane habitats above 1000 meters, such as those in the genus ''[[Ceroxylon]]'' native to the [[Andes]]. Palms may also live in grasslands and scrublands, usually associated with a water source, and in [[desert]] [[oasis|oases]] such as the [[Date Palm]]. A few palms are adapted to extremely [[base (chemistry)|basic]] [[lime (mineral)|lime]] soils, while others are similarly adapted to very [[acid]]ic [[serpentine]] soils <ref name="FAO">[http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X0451E/X0451e03.htm Tropical Palms by Food and Agriculture Organization]</ref>.
Arecaceae is notable for having the individual trees with the largest seed, largest leaf, largest inflorescence, as well as the tallest individual monocot. The [[Coco de mer]] (''Lodoicea maldivica'') has the largest seeds of any plant, 40-50 centimeters in diameter and weighing 15-30 kilograms each. [[Raffia palm]]s (''Raphia'' spp.), with leaves up to 25 meters long and 3 meters wide, have the largest leaves of any plant. The ''[[Corypha]]'' species have the largest inflorescence of any plant, up to 7.5 meters tall and containing millions of small flowers. ''[[Ceroxylon quindiuense]]'', [[Colombia]]'s national tree, is the tallest monocot in the world, reaching heights of 70 meters <ref name="PACSOA">[http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Ceroxylon/quindiuense.html Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia]</ref>.
===Taxonomy===
[[Image:Manila dwarf coconut palm.jpg|thumb|220px|left|A coconut palm.]]
[[Image:Palm Tree.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A palm tree in Calella, Spain.]]
Palms are a [[monophyly|monophyletic]] group of plants, meaning that the group consists of a common ancestor and all its descendants <ref name="VPEintro">[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/introduction/vpe_introduction.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Introduction]</ref>. Extensive taxonomic research on palms began with botanist H.E. Moore, who organized palms into fifteen major groups based mostly on general morphological characteristics. The following classification, proposed by N.W. Uhl and J. Dransfield in 1987, is a revision of Moore's classification that organizes palms into six subfamilies <ref>N. W. Uhl, J. Dransfield (1987). ''Genera palmarum: a classification of palms based on the work of Harold E. Moore, Jr.'' (Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas).</ref>. A few general traits of each subfamily are listed.
Coryphoideae is the most diverse subfamily and is a [[paraphyly|paraphyletic]] group, meaning that all members of the group share a common ancestor but the group does not include all the ancestor's descendants. Most palms in this su
bfamily have palmately lobed leaves and solitary flowers with three, sometimes four [[carpel]]s. The fruit normally develops from only one carpel. Subfamily Calamoideae includes the climbing palms such as rattans. The leaves are usually pinnate; derived characters ([[synapomorphy|synapomorphies]]) include spines on various organs, organs specialized for climbing, an extension of the main stem of the leaf bearing reflexed spines, and overlapping scales covering the fruit and ovary. Subfamily Nypoideae contains only one genus and one species, ''Nypa fruticans'', which has large pinnate leaves. The fruit is unusual in that it floats, and the stem is dichotomously branched, also unusual in palms. Subfamily Ceroxyloideae has small to medium-sized flowers that spirally arranged, with a [[gynoecium]] of three joined carpels. Arecoideae is the largest subfamily with six diverse tribes containing over 100 genera. All tribes have pinnate or bipinnate leaves and flowers arranged in groups of three, with a central pistillate and two staminate flowers. Phytelephantoideae is a [[monoecious]] subfamily. Members of this group have distinct [[monopodial]] flower clusters. Other distinct features include a gynoecium with five to ten joined carpels, and flowers with more than three parts per whorl. Fruits are multiseeded and have multiple parts <ref name="UA">[http://arboretum.arizona.edu/palms.htm Palms on the University of Arizona Campus]</ref>.
Currently, few extensive phylogenetic studies of Arecaceae exist. In 1997, Baker et al. explored subfamily and tribe relationships using chloroplast [[DNA]] from 60 genera from all subfamilies and tribes. The results strongly showed that Calamoideae is [[monophyly|monophyletic]], and that Ceroxyloideae and Coryphoideae are [[paraphyly|paraphyletic]]. The relationships of Arecoideae are uncertain but it is possibly related to Ceroxyloideae and Phytelephantoideae. However, hybridization has been observed among ''Orbignya'' and ''Phoenix'' species, and using chloroplast DNA in cladistic studies may produce inaccurate results due to maternal inheritance of the chloroplast DNA. Chemical and molecular data from non-organelle DNA, for example, could be more effective for studying palm phylogeny <ref name="UA">[http://arboretum.arizona.edu/palms.htm Palms on the University of Arizona Campus]</ref>.
===Selected genera===
[[Image:Palm tree.jpg|thumb|325px|right|The orange fruit on a palm tree.]]
*''[[Areca]]'' – [[Areca catechu|Betel palm]]
*''[[Bactris]]'' – [[Bactris gasipaes|Pupunha]]
*''[[Borassus]]'' – Palmyra palm
*''[[Calamus (palm genus)|Calamus]]'' – Rattan palm
*''[[Coconut|Cocos]]'' – Coconut
*''[[Copernicia]]'' – [[Carnauba wax]] palm
*''[[Oil palm|Elaeis]]'' – Oil palm
*''[[Açaí Palm|Euterpe]]'' – Cabbage Heart palm, Açaí palm
*''[[Jubaea]]'' – Chilean Wine palm, Coquito palm
*''[[Sago|Metroxylon]]'' – Sago palm
*''[[Phoenix (plant)|Phoenix]]'' – Date palm
*''[[Raffia palm|Raphia]]'' – Raffia palm
*''[[Roystonea]]'' – Royal palm
*''[[Sabal]]'' – Palmettos
*''[[Salacca]]'' – [[Salak]]
*''[[Trachycarpus]]'' – [[Trachycarpus fortunei|Windmill palm]], [[Trachycarpus takil|Kumaon palm]]
*''[[Washingtonia]]''
See [[list of Arecaceae genera]] for a complete listing of genera.
===Evolution===
Arecaceae is the first modern family of monocots that is clearly represented in the fossil record. Palms first appear in the fossil record around 80 million years ago, during the late [[Cretaceous]] Period. The first modern species, such as ''[[Nypa fruticans]]'' and ''[[Acromia aculeata]]'', appeared 69-70 million years ago, confirmed by fossil ''Nypa'' pollen dated to 70 million years ago. Palms appear to have undergone an early period of [[adaptive radiation]]. By 60 million years ago, many of the modern, specialized genera of palms appeared and became widespread and common, much more widespread than their range today. Because palms separated from the [[monocotyledon|monocots]] earlier than other families, they developed more intrafamilial specialization and diversity. By tracing back these diverse
characteristics of palms to the basic structures of monocots, palms may be valuable in studying monocot evolution <ref>[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/evolution/vpe_evolution.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Evolution and the fossil record]</ref>.
==Conservation==
[[Image:Pritchardia affinis.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Pritchardia affinis]]'', a critically endangered species endemic to the [[Hawaiian Islands]].]]
Like many other plants, palms have been threatened by human intervention and exploitation. The greatest risk to palms is destruction of habitat, especially in the tropical forests, due to [[urbanization]], wood-chipping, mining, and conversion to farmland. Palms rarely reproduce after such great changes in the habitat, and palms with a small habitat range are most vulnerable to them. The harvesting of [[heart of palm]], a delicacy in salads, also poses a threat because it is derived from the inner core of the tree and thus harvesting kills the tree. The use of rattan palms in furniture has caused a major population decrease in these species that has negatively affected local and international markets as well as biodiversity in the area <ref>[http://www.iucn.org/themes/SSC/publications/palms.htm Palms: Their Conservation and Sustained Utilization]</ref>. The sale of seeds to nurseries and collectors is another threat, and the seeds of popular palms are sometimes harvested directly from the wild. At least 100 palm species are currently endangered, and nine species have reportedly recently become extinct <ref name="VPEintro">[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/introduction/vpe_introduction.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Introduction]</ref>.
However, several factors make palm conservation more difficult. Palms live in almost every type of habitat and have tremendous morphological diversity. Most palm seeds lose viability quickly, but they cannot be preserved in low temperatures because the cold kills the embryo. Using botanical gardens for conservation also presents problems, since they can only house a few plants of any species and cannot truly imitate the natural setting <ref name="VPEconserv">[http://www.plantapalm.com/Vpe/conservation/vpe_conservation2.htm Palm Conservation: Its Atecedents, Status, and Needs]</ref>.
The Palm Specialist Group of the [[World Conservation Union]] (IUCN) began in 1984 and has performed a series of three studies in order to find basic information on the status of palms in the wild, utilization of wild palms, and palms under cultivation. Two projects on palm conservation and utilization supported by the [[WWF (conservation organization)|World Wildlife Fund]] took place from 1985-1990 and 1986-1991, in the American tropics and southeast Asia respectively. Both studies produced a large amount of new data and publications on palms. Preparation of a global action plan for palm conservation began in 1991, supported by the IUCN, and was published in 1996 <ref name="VPEconserv">[http://www.plantapalm.com/Vpe/conservation/vpe_conservation2.htm Palm Conservation: Its Atecedents, Status, and Needs]</ref>.
==Uses and cultivation==
[[Image:Dates on date palm.jpg|thumb|left|Fruit of the Date Palm ''Phoenix dactylifera'']]
Human use of palms is as old or older than human civilization itself, starting with the cultivation of the [[Date Palm]] by [[Mesopotamia]]ns and other Middle Eastern peoples 5000 years or more ago.[http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0681E/t0681e02.htm] Date wood, pits for storing dates, and other remains of the Date Palm have been found in Mesopotamian sites.<ref name="datesex">[http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/research/Exp_Rese_Disc/NearEast/datesex.shtml Date Sex @ University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology]</ref>The Date Palm had a tremendous effect on the history of the Middle East. W.H. Barreveld wrote:
:"One could go as far as to say that, had the date palm not existed, the expansion of the human race into the hot and barren parts of the "old" world would have been much more restricted. The date palm not only provided a concentrated energy food, which could be easily
stored and carried along on long journeys across the deserts, it also created a more amenable habitat for the people to live in by providing shade and protection from the desert winds (Fig. 1). In addition, the date palm also yielded a variety of products for use in agricultural production and for domestic utensils, and practically all parts of the palm had a useful purpose."[http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0681E/t0681e02.htm]
An indication of the importance of Palms is that they are mentioned more than 30 times in the [[Bible]]<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=palm+-hand&searchtype=all&version1=31&spanbegin=1&spanend=73 Bible search for "palm"]</ref>, and at least 22 times in the [[Koran]].<ref>[http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=simple&q1=palm&size=First+100 Koran search for "palm"]</ref>
Arecaceae has great economic importance includijng coconut products, oils, dates, ivory nuts, carnauba wax, rattan cane, raffia, etc..
The type member of Arecaceae is the [[Areca]] palm, the fruit of which, the [[betel nut]], is chewed with the [[betel]] leaf for intoxicating effects. Also belonging to the family of the Arecaceae are the Date Palm, harvested for its edible fruit; [[Rattan]]s, whose stems are used extensively in [[furniture]] and [[basket]]s; and the [[Coconut]]. [[Palm oil]] is an edible vegetable oil produced by the [[oil palm]]s in the genus ''[[Elaeis]]''. Several species are harvested for [[heart of palm]], a vegetable eaten in salads. Palm [[Sap (plant)|sap]] is sometimes [[fermentation (food)|fermented]] to produce [[palm wine]] or toddy, an [[alcoholic beverage]] common in parts of [[Africa]], [[India]], and the [[Philippines]] <ref name="palmuses">[http://www.articledashboard.com/article.php?id=10763 Palm Trees – Uses And Locations]</ref>. The [[Palm Sunday]] [[festival]] uses palm leaves, usually from the Date Palm, hence the name. [[Dragon's blood]], a red resin used traditionally in [[medicine]], [[varnish]], and [[dye]]s, may be obtained from the fruit of ''[[Daemonorops]]'' species. [[Coir]] is a coarse water-resistant fiber extracted from the outer shell of [[coconut]]s, used in doormats, brushes, mattresses, and ropes. Some indigenous groups living in palm-rich areas use palms to make many of their necessary items and food. [[Sago]], for example, a starch made from the pith of the trunk of the Sago Palm ''[[Metroxylon sagu]]'', is a major [[staple food]] for lowland peoples of [[New Guinea]] and the [[Moluccas]]. Palm leaves are also valuable to some peoples as a material for thatching or clothing <ref name="FAO> [http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X0451E/X0451e03.htm Tropical Palms by Food and Agriculture Organization]</ref>.
[[Image:Santa_Monica_Palm_Trees.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Washingtonia robusta]]'' trees line Ocean Avenue in [[Santa Monica, California]].]]
Today, palms are valuable as [[ornamental plant]]s and are often grown along streets in tropical and subtropical cities, and also along the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast in Europe. Farther north, palms are a common feature in [[botanical gardens]] or as indoor plants. Few palms tolerate severe cold, however, and the majority of the species are tropical or subtropical. The three most cold-tolerant species are ''[[Trachycarpus fortunei]]'', native to eastern [[Asia]], and ''[[Rhapidophyllum hystrix]]'' and ''[[Sabal minor]]'', both native to the southeastern [[United States]] <ref>[http://members.cox.net/lholmes/ Growing Hardy Palms]</ref>. For more details, see [[hardy palms]].
The southeastern state of [[South Carolina]] is nicknamed the Palmetto State after the [[Sabal palmetto|Cabbage Palmetto]], logs from which were used to build the fort at [[Fort Moultrie National Monument|Fort Moultrie]]. During the [[American Revolutionary War]] they were invaluable to those defending the fort, because their spongy wood absorbed or deflected the British cannonballs.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/fomo/2_History/FOMO%20RevWar%20Exhibit%20Text.pdf Revolutionary War Exhibit Text - November 200
2]</ref> Some palms can be grown as far north as [[Maryland]], [[Arkansas]], and even up along the Pacific coast to [[Oregon]], [[Washington]] and [[British Columbia]], where ocean winds have a warming effect. There have even been known species of transplanted palms that have survived as far north as southern [[New Jersey]]<ref>[http://www.bg-map.com/palms/woodbury.html Windmill Palms in Southern New Jersey]</ref>. The Chinese ''[[Trachycarpus fortunei]]'' is being grown experimentally on the [[Faroe Islands]] at 62°N, with young plants doing well so far <ref>Højgaard, A., Jóhansen, J., & Ødum, S. (1989). A century of tree planting on the Faroe Islands. ''Ann. Soc. Sci. Faeroensis'' Supplementum 14.</ref>.
==Symbolism==
{{main|Palm branch (symbol)}}
The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in pre-Christian times. The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] rewarded champions of the games and celebrated military successes with palm branches. Early [[Christian]]s used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul, as in the [[Palm Sunday]] festival celebrating the triumphal entry of [[Jesus]] into [[Jerusalem]]. In [[Judaism]], the palm represents peace and plenty, and is one of the Four Species of [[Sukkot]]; the palm may also symbolize the [[Tree of Life]] in [[Kabbalah]]. Today, the palm, especially the Coconut, remains a symbol of the stereotypical tropical island paradise <ref name="VPEintro">[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/introduction/vpe_introduction.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Introduction]</ref>. Palms appear on the flags and seals of several places where they are native, including those of [[Haiti]], [[Guam]], [[Florida]] and [[South Carolina]].
==See also==
* [[Travellers palm]] – a palm-like tree belonging to order [[Zingiberales]]
* [[Cycas revoluta|Sago palm]] – a palm-like [[cycad]] (a [[gymnosperm]])
*[[Toddy tapping]] - palm wine making process
==References==
<references/>
#[[Carl Heinrich Schultz|C. H. Schultz-Schultzenstein]] (1832). ''Natürliches System des Pflanzenreichs...'', 317. Berlin, Germany.
==External links==
{{commonscat|Arecaceae}}
* [http://www.fairchildgarden.org/palmguide Guide to Palms] A collection of palm images, scientific data, and horticultural information hosted by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami.
* [http://www.kew.org/cgi-bin/web.dbs/genlist.pl?PALMAE Kew Botanic Garden's Palm Genera list] A list of the currently acknowledged genera by Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London, England.
* [http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/ PACSOA] Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia palm species listing with images.
* [http://www.plantapalm.com Palm & Cycad Societies of Florida, Inc. (PACSOF)], which includes pages on [http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/taxonomy/vpe_taxonomy3.htm Arecaceae taxonomy] and a [http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/photos/vpe_photos.htm photo index].
[[Category:Plant families]]
[[Category:Palms| ]]
[[Category:Tropical agriculture]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Arecaceae (palm family)
| image = 1859-Martinique.web.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Coconut Palm ''Cocos nucifera''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Arecales]]
| familia = '''Arecaceae'''
| familia_authority = Schultz-Schultzenstein
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
Many; see [[list of Arecaceae genera]]
}}
'''Arecaceae''' (sometimes known by the names '''Palmae''' or '''Palmaceae''', although the latter name is taxonomically invalid.<ref>"Palmaceae" is not accepted because the name Arecaceae (and its acceptable alternative Palmae, [http://www.bgbm.org/IAPT/Nomenclature/Code/SaintLouis/0022Ch3Sec2a018.htm ICBN Art. 18.5]) are conserved over other names for the family. </ref>), the Palm Family, is a family of [[flowering plant]]s belonging to the [[Monocotyledon|monocot]] order, '''Arecales'''. There are roughly 202 currently known [[Genus|genera]] with around 2600 [[species]], most of which are restricted to [[tropics|tropical]] or [[subtropics|subtropical]] climates. Most palms are distinguished by their large, compound, [[evergreen]] [[leaf|leaves]] arranged at the top of an unbranched stem. However, many palms are exceptions to this statement, and palms in fact exhibit an enormous diversity in physical characteristics. As well as being morphologically diverse, palms also inhabit nearly every type of [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]] within their range, from [[rainforest]]s to [[desert]]s.
Palms are one of the most well-known and extensively cultivated plant families. They have had an important role to humans throughout much of history. Many common products and foods are derived from palms, and palms are also widely used in landscaping for their exotic appearance making them one of the most economically important plants. In many historical cultures, palms were symbols for such ideas as victory, peace, and fertility. Today, palms remain a popular symbol for the tropics and [[vacation]]s <ref>[http://www.palms.org/palmsjournal/2001/landscaping.htm Landscaping with Palms in the Mediterranean]</ref>.
==Characteristics and evolution==
===Range===
The vast majority of palms live in the [[tropics]]. Palms are abundant throughout the tropical regions around the world, and are present in almost every type of habitat in the tropics. Diversity is highest in wet, lowland tropical forests, especially in ecological "hotspots" such as [[Madagascar]], which has more endemic palms than the entire continental [[Africa]]. [[Colombia]] may have the highest number of palm species in one country <ref name="conservatory">[http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/education/palms.htm Conservatory of Flowers]</ref>.
It is estimated that only 130 palm species grow naturally beyond the tropics, most of which grow in the [[subtropics]]. The northernmost palm is ''[[Chamaerops|Chamaerops humilis]]'', which reaches 44°N latitude in southern [[France]], where the local [[Mediterranean climate]] is milder than other places as far north. The southernmost palm is the ''[[Nikau|Rhopalostylis sapida]]'', which reaches 44°S on the [[Chatham Islands]] where an [[oceanic climate]] has a similar warming effect <ref name="FAO">[http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X0451E/X0451e03.htm Tropical Palms by Food and Agriculture Organization]</ref>.
===Morphology and habitat===
[[Image:Washingtonia filifera in Palm Canyon.jpg|250px|thumb|left|This grove of ''[[Washingtonia filifera]]'' in [[Palm Canyon]], [[California]] is growing alongside a stream running through the desert.]]
The growth habit of palms is usually a straight, unbranched stem, and rarely a [[dichotomy|dichotomous]] branching stem or a creeping vine-like habit ([[liana]]) <ref>[http://www.dipbot.unict.it/palms/Arec_fam.html Arecaceae - Università di Catania]</ref>. They have large evergreen [[leaf|leaves]] that are either palmately ('fan-leaved') or pinnately ('feather-leaved') compound and spirally arranged at the top of the stem. The leaves ha
ve a tubular sheath at the base that usually splits open on one side at maturity <ref>[http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/arec.htm Arecaceae - University of Hawaii Botany]</ref>. The [[inflorescence]] is a [[panicle]] or [[raceme|spike]] surrounded by one or more [[bract]]s or [[spadix|spathe]]s that become woody at maturity. The [[flower]]s are generally small and white, radially symmetric, and can be either uni- or bisexual. The sepals and petals usually number three each and may be distinct or joined at the base. The stamens generally number six, with filaments that may be separate, attached to each other, or attached to the pistil at the base. The [[fruit]] is usually a single-[[seed]]ed [[drupe]] <ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=10061 Arecaceae in Flora of North America]</ref>, but some genera (e.g. ''[[Salacca]]'') may contain two or more seeds in each fruit.
Palms inhabit a variety of habitats. Over two-thirds of palms live in tropical forests, where some species grow tall enough to form part of the [[canopy]] and other shorter palms adapted to shade form part of the [[understory]] <ref name="VPEintro">[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/introduction/vpe_introduction.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Introduction]</ref>. Some species form pure stands in areas with poor drainage or regular flooding, including ''[[Raphia hookeri]]'' which is common in coastal freshwater swamps in West Africa. Other palms live in tropical montane habitats above 1000 meters, such as those in the genus ''[[Ceroxylon]]'' native to the [[Andes]]. Palms may also live in grasslands and scrublands, usually associated with a water source, and in [[desert]] [[oasis|oases]] such as the [[Date Palm]]. A few palms are adapted to extremely [[base (chemistry)|basic]] [[lime (mineral)|lime]] soils, while others are similarly adapted to very [[acid]]ic [[serpentine]] soils <ref name="FAO">[http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X0451E/X0451e03.htm Tropical Palms by Food and Agriculture Organization]</ref>.
Arecaceae is notable for having the individual trees with the largest seed, largest leaf, largest inflorescence, as well as the tallest individual monocot. The [[Coco de mer]] (''Lodoicea maldivica'') has the largest seeds of any plant, 40-50 centimeters in diameter and weighing 15-30 kilograms each. [[Raffia palm]]s (''Raphia'' spp.), with leaves up to 25 meters long and 3 meters wide, have the largest leaves of any plant. The ''[[Corypha]]'' species have the largest inflorescence of any plant, up to 7.5 meters tall and containing millions of small flowers. ''[[Ceroxylon quindiuense]]'', [[Colombia]]'s national tree, is the tallest monocot in the world, reaching heights of 70 meters <ref name="PACSOA">[http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Ceroxylon/quindiuense.html Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia]</ref>.
===Taxonomy===
[[Image:Manila dwarf coconut palm.jpg|thumb|220px|left|A coconut palm.]]
[[Image:Palm Tree.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A palm tree in Calella, Spain.]]
Palms are a [[monophyly|monophyletic]] group of plants, meaning that the group consists of a common ancestor and all its descendants <ref name="VPEintro">[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/introduction/vpe_introduction.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Introduction]</ref>. Extensive taxonomic research on palms began with botanist H.E. Moore, who organized palms into fifteen major groups based mostly on general morphological characteristics. The following classification, proposed by N.W. Uhl and J. Dransfield in 1987, is a revision of Moore's classification that organizes palms into six subfamilies <ref>N. W. Uhl, J. Dransfield (1987). ''Genera palmarum: a classification of palms based on the work of Harold E. Moore, Jr.'' (Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas).</ref>. A few general traits of each subfamily are listed.
Coryphoideae is the most diverse subfamily and is a [[paraphyly|paraphyletic]] group, meaning that all members of the group share a common ancestor but the group does not include all the ancestor's descendants. Most palms in this su
bfamily have palmately lobed leaves and solitary flowers with three, sometimes four [[carpel]]s. The fruit normally develops from only one carpel. Subfamily Calamoideae includes the climbing palms such as rattans. The leaves are usually pinnate; derived characters ([[synapomorphy|synapomorphies]]) include spines on various organs, organs specialized for climbing, an extension of the main stem of the leaf bearing reflexed spines, and overlapping scales covering the fruit and ovary. Subfamily Nypoideae contains only one genus and one species, ''Nypa fruticans'', which has large pinnate leaves. The fruit is unusual in that it floats, and the stem is dichotomously branched, also unusual in palms. Subfamily Ceroxyloideae has small to medium-sized flowers that spirally arranged, with a [[gynoecium]] of three joined carpels. Arecoideae is the largest subfamily with six diverse tribes containing over 100 genera. All tribes have pinnate or bipinnate leaves and flowers arranged in groups of three, with a central pistillate and two staminate flowers. Phytelephantoideae is a [[monoecious]] subfamily. Members of this group have distinct [[monopodial]] flower clusters. Other distinct features include a gynoecium with five to ten joined carpels, and flowers with more than three parts per whorl. Fruits are multiseeded and have multiple parts <ref name="UA">[http://arboretum.arizona.edu/palms.htm Palms on the University of Arizona Campus]</ref>.
Currently, few extensive phylogenetic studies of Arecaceae exist. In 1997, Baker et al. explored subfamily and tribe relationships using chloroplast [[DNA]] from 60 genera from all subfamilies and tribes. The results strongly showed that Calamoideae is [[monophyly|monophyletic]], and that Ceroxyloideae and Coryphoideae are [[paraphyly|paraphyletic]]. The relationships of Arecoideae are uncertain but it is possibly related to Ceroxyloideae and Phytelephantoideae. However, hybridization has been observed among ''Orbignya'' and ''Phoenix'' species, and using chloroplast DNA in cladistic studies may produce inaccurate results due to maternal inheritance of the chloroplast DNA. Chemical and molecular data from non-organelle DNA, for example, could be more effective for studying palm phylogeny <ref name="UA">[http://arboretum.arizona.edu/palms.htm Palms on the University of Arizona Campus]</ref>.
===Selected genera===
[[Image:Palm tree.jpg|thumb|325px|right|The orange fruit on a palm tree.]]
*''[[Areca]]'' – [[Areca catechu|Betel palm]]
*''[[Bactris]]'' – [[Bactris gasipaes|Pupunha]]
*''[[Borassus]]'' – Palmyra palm
*''[[Calamus (palm genus)|Calamus]]'' – Rattan palm
*''[[Coconut|Cocos]]'' – Coconut
*''[[Copernicia]]'' – [[Carnauba wax]] palm
*''[[Oil palm|Elaeis]]'' – Oil palm
*''[[Açaí Palm|Euterpe]]'' – Cabbage Heart palm, Açaí palm
*''[[Jubaea]]'' – Chilean Wine palm, Coquito palm
*''[[Sago|Metroxylon]]'' – Sago palm
*''[[Phoenix (plant)|Phoenix]]'' – Date palm
*''[[Raffia palm|Raphia]]'' – Raffia palm
*''[[Roystonea]]'' – Royal palm
*''[[Sabal]]'' – Palmettos
*''[[Salacca]]'' – [[Salak]]
*''[[Trachycarpus]]'' – [[Trachycarpus fortunei|Windmill palm]], [[Trachycarpus takil|Kumaon palm]]
*''[[Washingtonia]]''
See [[list of Arecaceae genera]] for a complete listing of genera.
===Evolution===
Arecaceae is the first modern family of monocots that is clearly represented in the fossil record. Palms first appear in the fossil record around 80 million years ago, during the late [[Cretaceous]] Period. The first modern species, such as ''[[Nypa fruticans]]'' and ''[[Acromia aculeata]]'', appeared 69-70 million years ago, confirmed by fossil ''Nypa'' pollen dated to 70 million years ago. Palms appear to have undergone an early period of [[adaptive radiation]]. By 60 million years ago, many of the modern, specialized genera of palms appeared and became widespread and common, much more widespread than their range today. Because palms separated from the [[monocotyledon|monocots]] earlier than other families, they developed more intrafamilial specialization and diversity. By tracing back these diverse
characteristics of palms to the basic structures of monocots, palms may be valuable in studying monocot evolution <ref>[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/evolution/vpe_evolution.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Evolution and the fossil record]</ref>.
==Conservation==
[[Image:Pritchardia affinis.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Pritchardia affinis]]'', a critically endangered species endemic to the [[Hawaiian Islands]].]]
Like many other plants, palms have been threatened by human intervention and exploitation. The greatest risk to palms is destruction of habitat, especially in the tropical forests, due to [[urbanization]], wood-chipping, mining, and conversion to farmland. Palms rarely reproduce after such great changes in the habitat, and palms with a small habitat range are most vulnerable to them. The harvesting of [[heart of palm]], a delicacy in salads, also poses a threat because it is derived from the inner core of the tree and thus harvesting kills the tree. The use of rattan palms in furniture has caused a major population decrease in these species that has negatively affected local and international markets as well as biodiversity in the area <ref>[http://www.iucn.org/themes/SSC/publications/palms.htm Palms: Their Conservation and Sustained Utilization]</ref>. The sale of seeds to nurseries and collectors is another threat, and the seeds of popular palms are sometimes harvested directly from the wild. At least 100 palm species are currently endangered, and nine species have reportedly recently become extinct <ref name="VPEintro">[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/introduction/vpe_introduction.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Introduction]</ref>.
However, several factors make palm conservation more difficult. Palms live in almost every type of habitat and have tremendous morphological diversity. Most palm seeds lose viability quickly, but they cannot be preserved in low temperatures because the cold kills the embryo. Using botanical gardens for conservation also presents problems, since they can only house a few plants of any species and cannot truly imitate the natural setting <ref name="VPEconserv">[http://www.plantapalm.com/Vpe/conservation/vpe_conservation2.htm Palm Conservation: Its Atecedents, Status, and Needs]</ref>.
The Palm Specialist Group of the [[World Conservation Union]] (IUCN) began in 1984 and has performed a series of three studies in order to find basic information on the status of palms in the wild, utilization of wild palms, and palms under cultivation. Two projects on palm conservation and utilization supported by the [[WWF (conservation organization)|World Wildlife Fund]] took place from 1985-1990 and 1986-1991, in the American tropics and southeast Asia respectively. Both studies produced a large amount of new data and publications on palms. Preparation of a global action plan for palm conservation began in 1991, supported by the IUCN, and was published in 1996 <ref name="VPEconserv">[http://www.plantapalm.com/Vpe/conservation/vpe_conservation2.htm Palm Conservation: Its Atecedents, Status, and Needs]</ref>.
==Uses and cultivation==
[[Image:Dates on date palm.jpg|thumb|left|Fruit of the Date Palm ''Phoenix dactylifera'']]
Human use of palms is as old or older than human civilization itself, starting with the cultivation of the [[Date Palm]] by [[Mesopotamia]]ns and other Middle Eastern peoples 5000 years or more ago.[http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0681E/t0681e02.htm] Date wood, pits for storing dates, and other remains of the Date Palm have been found in Mesopotamian sites.<ref name="datesex">[http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/research/Exp_Rese_Disc/NearEast/datesex.shtml Date Sex @ University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology]</ref>The Date Palm had a tremendous effect on the history of the Middle East. W.H. Barreveld wrote:
:"One could go as far as to say that, had the date palm not existed, the expansion of the human race into the hot and barren parts of the "old" world would have been much more restricted. The date palm not only provided a concentrated energy food, which could be easily
stored and carried along on long journeys across the deserts, it also created a more amenable habitat for the people to live in by providing shade and protection from the desert winds (Fig. 1). In addition, the date palm also yielded a variety of products for use in agricultural production and for domestic utensils, and practically all parts of the palm had a useful purpose."[http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0681E/t0681e02.htm]
An indication of the importance of Palms is that they are mentioned more than 30 times in the [[Bible]]<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=palm+-hand&searchtype=all&version1=31&spanbegin=1&spanend=73 Bible search for "palm"]</ref>, and at least 22 times in the [[Koran]].<ref>[http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=simple&q1=palm&size=First+100 Koran search for "palm"]</ref>
Arecaceae has great economic importance includijng coconut products, oils, dates, ivory nuts, carnauba wax, rattan cane, raffia, etc..
The type member of Arecaceae is the [[Areca]] palm, the fruit of which, the [[betel nut]], is chewed with the [[betel]] leaf for intoxicating effects. Also belonging to the family of the Arecaceae are the Date Palm, harvested for its edible fruit; [[Rattan]]s, whose stems are used extensively in [[furniture]] and [[basket]]s; and the [[Coconut]]. [[Palm oil]] is an edible vegetable oil produced by the [[oil palm]]s in the genus ''[[Elaeis]]''. Several species are harvested for [[heart of palm]], a vegetable eaten in salads. Palm [[Sap (plant)|sap]] is sometimes [[fermentation (food)|fermented]] to produce [[palm wine]] or toddy, an [[alcoholic beverage]] common in parts of [[Africa]], [[India]], and the [[Philippines]] <ref name="palmuses">[http://www.articledashboard.com/article.php?id=10763 Palm Trees – Uses And Locations]</ref>. The [[Palm Sunday]] [[festival]] uses palm leaves, usually from the Date Palm, hence the name. [[Dragon's blood]], a red resin used traditionally in [[medicine]], [[varnish]], and [[dye]]s, may be obtained from the fruit of ''[[Daemonorops]]'' species. [[Coir]] is a coarse water-resistant fiber extracted from the outer shell of [[coconut]]s, used in doormats, brushes, mattresses, and ropes. Some indigenous groups living in palm-rich areas use palms to make many of their necessary items and food. [[Sago]], for example, a starch made from the pith of the trunk of the Sago Palm ''[[Metroxylon sagu]]'', is a major [[staple food]] for lowland peoples of [[New Guinea]] and the [[Moluccas]]. Palm leaves are also valuable to some peoples as a material for thatching or clothing <ref name="FAO> [http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/docrep/X0451E/X0451e03.htm Tropical Palms by Food and Agriculture Organization]</ref>.
[[Image:Santa_Monica_Palm_Trees.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Washingtonia robusta]]'' trees line Ocean Avenue in [[Santa Monica, California]].]]
Today, palms are valuable as [[ornamental plant]]s and are often grown along streets in tropical and subtropical cities, and also along the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] coast in Europe. Farther north, palms are a common feature in [[botanical gardens]] or as indoor plants. Few palms tolerate severe cold, however, and the majority of the species are tropical or subtropical. The three most cold-tolerant species are ''[[Trachycarpus fortunei]]'', native to eastern [[Asia]], and ''[[Rhapidophyllum hystrix]]'' and ''[[Sabal minor]]'', both native to the southeastern [[United States]] <ref>[http://members.cox.net/lholmes/ Growing Hardy Palms]</ref>. For more details, see [[hardy palms]].
The southeastern state of [[South Carolina]] is nicknamed the Palmetto State after the [[Sabal palmetto|Cabbage Palmetto]], logs from which were used to build the fort at [[Fort Moultrie National Monument|Fort Moultrie]]. During the [[American Revolutionary War]] they were invaluable to those defending the fort, because their spongy wood absorbed or deflected the British cannonballs.<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/fomo/2_History/FOMO%20RevWar%20Exhibit%20Text.pdf Revolutionary War Exhibit Text - November 200
2]</ref> Some palms can be grown as far north as [[Maryland]], [[Arkansas]], and even up along the Pacific coast to [[Oregon]], [[Washington]] and [[British Columbia]], where ocean winds have a warming effect. There have even been known species of transplanted palms that have survived as far north as southern [[New Jersey]]<ref>[http://www.bg-map.com/palms/woodbury.html Windmill Palms in Southern New Jersey]</ref>. The Chinese ''[[Trachycarpus fortunei]]'' is being grown experimentally on the [[Faroe Islands]] at 62°N, with young plants doing well so far <ref>Højgaard, A., Jóhansen, J., & Ødum, S. (1989). A century of tree planting on the Faroe Islands. ''Ann. Soc. Sci. Faeroensis'' Supplementum 14.</ref>.
==Symbolism==
{{main|Palm branch (symbol)}}
The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in pre-Christian times. The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] rewarded champions of the games and celebrated military successes with palm branches. Early [[Christian]]s used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul, as in the [[Palm Sunday]] festival celebrating the triumphal entry of [[Jesus]] into [[Jerusalem]]. In [[Judaism]], the palm represents peace and plenty, and is one of the Four Species of [[Sukkot]]; the palm may also symbolize the [[Tree of Life]] in [[Kabbalah]]. Today, the palm, especially the Coconut, remains a symbol of the stereotypical tropical island paradise <ref name="VPEintro">[http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/introduction/vpe_introduction.htm Virtual Palm Encyclopedia - Introduction]</ref>. Palms appear on the flags and seals of several places where they are native, including those of [[Haiti]], [[Guam]], [[Florida]] and [[South Carolina]].
==See also==
* [[Travellers palm]] – a palm-like tree belonging to order [[Zingiberales]]
* [[Cycas revoluta|Sago palm]] – a palm-like [[cycad]] (a [[gymnosperm]])
*[[Toddy tapping]] - palm wine making process
==References==
<references/>
#[[Carl Heinrich Schultz|C. H. Schultz-Schultzenstein]] (1832). ''Natürliches System des Pflanzenreichs...'', 317. Berlin, Germany.
==External links==
{{commonscat|Arecaceae}}
* [http://www.fairchildgarden.org/palmguide Guide to Palms] A collection of palm images, scientific data, and horticultural information hosted by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami.
* [http://www.kew.org/cgi-bin/web.dbs/genlist.pl?PALMAE Kew Botanic Garden's Palm Genera list] A list of the currently acknowledged genera by Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London, England.
* [http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/ PACSOA] Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia palm species listing with images.
* [http://www.plantapalm.com Palm & Cycad Societies of Florida, Inc. (PACSOF)], which includes pages on [http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/taxonomy/vpe_taxonomy3.htm Arecaceae taxonomy] and a [http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/photos/vpe_photos.htm photo index].
[[Category:Plant families]]
[[Category:Palms| ]]
[[Category:Tropical agriculture]]
