What Do Palm Trees Grow?

Palm oil comes from specific types of palm trees. Mostly widely known is the Genus Elaeis.

This Genus Has Two Species:

• Elaeis guineensis - Commonly called African Oil Palm. There's only one cultivated economy-boosting palm that brings more income than this. It is the Coconut Palm.

Not Only Oil, But Lovely to Look At - With Its Full Round Crown

• Elaeis oleifera - The American Oil Palm hales from Northern South/Central America. Its oil output is substantially less than guineensis.

1. Columbian indigenous women use the fatty dark oily fruit pith for a hair dressing. Said to prevent dandruff & keep hair from graying or falling out.

Standing & Growing All in a Row!

Protective options are being studied. One usage has been in biofuel. It's lauric acid also makes it good for cooking.

Attalea colenda oil palms look captivating growing across this small hill.

Attalea crassispatha - Seriously endangered in its native Southern Haiti. Preservation projects are underway.

• Factors leading to difficult new growth:

1. Cattle love the palm's fruit. They also like its new growth seedlings.
2. People snack on the palm fruit's seeds.

Attalea crassispatha is an appropriate name
When having this view as you "Cross by on the Path"

Attalea maripa - Cucurite palm, native to Northern South America. Many local uses.

Especially Its Edible, Yellow Oval Fruit.

• Made into a cold drink. Also used in foods. 
• Medicinally used as treatment for colds. Veterinarians find them useful.

Other Usage

• Commercial oil production.

1. Possibility for biodiesel. 
2. Useful for cosmetics.
3. Other locally valued uses are its thatch & Frond Parts used for blowgun darts.

Shapely Cucurite Palm Has Many Uses

SOME GROW THEIR OWN HOUSEKEEPER

Some palm trees are The Type That Do “Self-Cleaning”. Which means if you worry about trimming leaves - don't! It's a nonstarter.

Because some palms are self-starters when it comes to chucking dead fronds.

This Crownshaft Palm Keeps a "Clean House"!

Two Types of Palms are Self-Cleaning.

• Palms with a crownshaft automatically drop dead fronds.
• Some non-crownshaft palms also rid their trunk of dead leaves. Be patient! It takes a few years to get this action going.

1. Washingtonia filifera, the California Fan Palm or Desert Fan Palm can do this.

Washingtonia filifera palms fill this canyon.
Some get to their "housekeeping" more quickly than others!

PALMS GROW LEAVES FOR MANY USES

Fan palm fronds can be turned into actual fans for waving, to cool down! Here's one example:

Corypha umbraculifera's common name is Talipot Palm. Has the world's largest fan fronds.

• Locally used for thatch, in Southeast Asia south into Australia.
• Creative people use fronds for handy household items & crafts.

Talipot Palms Grow Interesting Inflorescence Stalks

COCONUT PALM

Beloved, popular palm tree. With its tall & slender, slightly curving trunk. When people envision a Tropical Beach Vacation, this is the palm in view.

Everyone knows its iconic fruit. Native to the tropics, its oil & fibers are also useful.

Scientific name is Cocos nucifera.

Coconut Palms Showing Their Oh So Useful Fruit

Many people use products that the coconut palm grows, especially the fruit. Have a look:

Cooking

• Dried (desiccated) coconut fruit for toppings (think atop cakes or on shrimp). 
• Incorporating coconut into baked items like cookies & pies.
• Coconut oil for cooking.

Coconut Oil in a Glass Container - Squooshily Solid at Room Temperature

Various Types of Creams

• Beauty products
• Made into coconut cream for sweets. Or usage in sauces.
• Turned into whipped cream for dairy intolerance replacement.

Beauty Products From Coconut

Drinks

• Coquitos, traditional Holiday Drink
• Instilled into alcoholic spirits (like rum or Palm Wine)
• Coconut water or milk

You Can Purchase Coconut Milk. Try a Glassful!

Snacks

• Toasted coconut chips are often added to trail mix.

What do palms trees grow?
Fruits to make coconut chips! Yummy snack!

DATE PALM

Phoenix dactylifera is popular. Middle Eastern native.

• Palm grown for its chewy, sweet fruit. 

1. Eat them fresh or dried. Have you tried them?

• What else do these palm trees grow? Dates for many products.

1. There's even an Arizona town dedicated to growing dates, called: Dateland! We've been there several times.

Groves of Date Palms in Dateland Arizona

More of What Date Palms Grow:

Frond Parts

• Leaves useful for thatch in making baskets & woven goods.
• Frond petioles used in fencing.
• Leaf bases sourced for fuel.
• Frond parts make rope & packing filler.

Edible Palm Heart

• Bud's heart is edible. But best with non-productive palms, set for razing.

1. Retrieving the heart as a vegetable food leaves a hollow. It fills with thick fluid. Tastes sweet & refreshing. Drink that, or try it after fermentation!

Trunk/Stem

• Felled trunks good for building lumber.
• Trunks tapped a limited amount of times. Getting sweet sap, called Date Honey. Tapping constricts palm fruit development.

1. Honey is used fresh, or processed into sugar.

1. Throughout history has been fermented into a strong alcoholic beverage. It's called "The Drink of Life." Ancient Egyptian cuneiform writing mentions it.

Seeds

• Sprouted, then used as cattle fodder.
• Sometimes ground to use in place of coffee.
• For personal ornamentation, like jewelry.

What palm trees do grow is important to growing economies of many countries. From palm products made from oils, fruits & leaves, to bringing out cravings for the tropics. Like in the tourist industry, which benefits from these tropical trees.

• Palm oil is a primary export for some countries.

1. There is controversy about its use.

• Palm Trees, an Iconic Artform Subject. Ranging from traditional paintings to modern street art. To symbolize relaxation or escape. Yes! Let's get away from it all.

Artwork called "Shadow Self Portrait" created by Forest & Kim Starr
Plant Biologists in Hawaii

IMPORTANT PALM ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTIONS

Have you ever thought that what Palm trees grow may be important for the environment? In several ways...

• Palms grow roots that spread out widely, helping prevent soil erosion. Like these Quindio Wax Palms - the Tallest Palm Trees on Earth!

Drawing Shows the Root Structure of Ceroxylon quindiuense

• Their ways of growing, with frondly coverage, makes attractive animal habitats.

This Palm in the Tucson Front Yard of our Friend
Has Hosted Many Animal Homes - Credit: Pam S.
It's Story is in Our Monthly Memo: Life Amid The Palms - Read It For Free!
Click Pic For Details

• Majorly important is palm's contribution to air quality. By absorbing Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere & replacing it with pure oxygen. 

1. Happens during photosynthesis Within the Fronds which palm trees grow.