Palm Tree Fruit: From Flowers to Feast

Palm tree fruit is an absolute for continuation of these tropical palm plants. Why?

Have you looked up at a palm tree, wondering about those small, puzzling clusters of solid balls hanging from its branches? Those are the palm's fruits!

They hold the key to the palm tree's survival.

First The Palm Flower - Small & Low-Key

Yes each palm tree flower is almost always tiny & understated. If you did notice them above, you may wonder - those things hanging there, are they flowers??

Yes they are! Growing on a stalk called an inflorescence. Those branches contain the flowers. Even though the flowers are small, the large inflorescence won't be missed.

The flowers' purpose is producing the seed-bearing fruit.

On some palms, when fruit develops, you'd probably notice them. They've got a more showy display. Its bunching branches are then called the infructescence.

Queen Palm flowers on the inflorescence and spathe

Palm flowers, while often small,
play a vital role in fruit production.

The Birds & the Bees - and Palm Tree Babies!

Like other flowering plants, palm trees need a little romance to create the next generation.

Their flowers are usually small and inconspicuous. Their love life uses surrogates of nature! Palms depend on wind, bees, or other insects for pollination.

Once pollinated, these flowers begin developing into palm tree fruit.

Pygmy Date Palm Flowers are Blooming

Palm Fruits On the Infructescence

A Fruit Salad Surprise: You Know Palm Tree Fruits!

Think you haven't noticed a palm fruit? We think you have!

Have you had crunchy coconut toppings on deserts?
Also think of dates. Not the couples going out on the town type!

Both are products of palm trees!

There's a little town in Arizona dedicated to growing date palms. For their fruit production. We've stopped in there a time or two.

Lots of Date Palms in an Arizona Town Dedicated to Growing Them

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Those two palm fruit types, the coconut & date, are probably the most well-known. There are many more among over 2400 species of palms that grow around the world.

Yes, all those Palms Grow Fruit, eventually. Some are edible palm fruit, but most are not. At least for people!

Anatomy of a Palm Fruit

Drupes, Berries, and Everything In-Between

Palm fruits come in many shapes, sizes, and textures.

Most are "drupes" - like the Fruit of the California Fan Palm. With a thin outer covering (epicarp). This layer varies from smooth to prickly rough.
Plus a hard inner shell (endocarp) protecting the seed.
The fleshy layer (mesocarp) nurtures the developing seed.

Those other palm fruit types resemble berries, tiny, with a thinner skin.

No matter their form, all palm fruits share the same purpose. To first protect, and then encourage ripened seed dispersal.

Diagram of the parts of a Drupe

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Edible or Inedible Fruit? That is the Question!

While we humans have claimed coconuts and dates as scrumptious treasures, many palm tree fruits are an animal food source.

Most palm tree fruits have no human food usage. They taste terrible to us.

But birds, squirrels, and other wildlife need palm fruit, essential to their diet. They spread the seeds in droppings, which provides continuing generations of palm tree lives.

Birds Like Many Palm Tree Fruits Just Fine!

Some palms do have edible fruit that's very useful for people.

Whether in a Dioecious or Monoecious Palm, an infructescence holds the fruit until it ripens. For eating as is, making into jams or jellies, or incorporating into other tasty dishes.

Other palm tree fruit can be edible in certain circumstances.

Say, if there are limited available food stores in an area. Or food products are difficult to access, because of war, etc.
Or they've been historically useful, as with Washingtonia filifera fruit.
Some people like to experiment, being creative for their possible recipe usefulness.

Palm Fruit Superstars: Coconut and Date

We're starting a round of applause to the rockstars of the palm fruit world: the coconut and the date!

COCONUT PALM TREE (Cocos nucifera)

Inside a coconut lies a bonanza of tastiness and hydration. This wondrous palm tree fruit provides nourishing water, yummy meat, and multipurpose oil.

This fruit is used in delish dishes & drinks.

How about creamy Coconut Milk!
Do you favor that drink: piña coladas?
Healthful Benefits: Good source of healthy fats & electrolytes.

No wonder it's a staple product worldwide.

Value of the Coconut as Palm Tree Fruit

The Coconut Palm is widely cultivated as the most prominent palm for economies around the world.

The coconut fruit doesn't take long to arrive on newly planted trees, growing in clusters.
When ripe, the color could be green, yellow or brown.

several coconuts with two beginning to sprout new coconut palms

Coconuts That Have Begun Sprouting New Palms

A Date Palm Tree Produces Edible Fruit

Phoenix dactylifera is commonly called the Edible Date Palm.

Native to Northern Africa & the Middle East, where they still grow. Cultivated in many dry climates for over 5000 years.

The palm prefers environments around desert oases, or alongside rivers. It's drought tolerant, but does need a nearby groundwater source.

As a valued palm fruit for food, arid areas throughout the world grow them. California & Arizona in the US grow varieties developed for commercial use.

They're delicious: sweet & chewy. The caramel-like flavor is useful in desserts. Also used as a natural sweetener.

Date fruit is nutritionally wholesome.
Usually brownish orange, about 3 inches long.
They're a good source of fiber, potassium & other nutrients.

Date palms offer a bounty of sweet and nutritious fruit.

Takeaways for Palm Tree Fruit

There are many types of palm tree fruit. In fact, every palm produces fruit for continued life of the species. By putting out flowers, many of which will be pollinated. That will get fruit growing.

Some fruits are edible by humans. Many more are useful for animals.

What types of palm tree fruits have you had the opportunity to try? Anything you really enjoyed. Or said "yuck!" Let us know, show us on our Facebook Page.

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