What is a Palm Tree?

Some think palm trees are a kind of grass.
Way up the plant kingdom, they have a relationship, but that's all!
Over 2600 Species of Palms!

ORGANIZED LIKE A FAMILY TREE

Sort-of think of it how it's organized, like your own family tree. The whole tree, with its branches, is the family. With the couple who began their tree of descendants.

• For palms, that analogy would be the Arecaceae family.

Cousins & Their Parents

Next think about your aunts, uncles & cousins. That begins other smaller branchings. You're all related by DNA. You might have some similar characteristics.

I remember two cousins I knew who almost looked like they could be twin sisters! You may have known someone like that yourself.

• For palms this is like various sub-families. There are six total, then divided into tribes & even sometimes subtribes. An example of a palm sub-family is Coryphoideae, which contains 3 tribes.

Mom & Dad

Then look to your family tree branches for your parents. This is your closest relationship.

• For palms, that would be the assorted genera groupings. They have characteristics that put them in the same genus group. Closely related. An example of a genus is the Phoenix palms.

Siblings

Then there are also your brothers & sisters. They're also very closely related.

• With palms, we can compare that relationship to the species. Which itemizes each type of palm tree.

We hope that gives a general idea of how that all works. But there's more to knowing about what is a palm tree to understand this unique plant!

GROWTH PROCESS

What they all do is begin the below ground action first. They all need warm temperatures for success. A minimum of 86^oF up to even the high 90s to 100^oF range.

• Most of a palm seed has inner nourishment for starting palm tree growth. Called the endosperm.

1. Think of the coconut's meat & milk. Which is that palm seed's endosperm.

The Coconut Palm's Seed has Endosperm
Nourishment for a New Palm's Initial Energy Source

First Growth

From the seed bottom out shoots a cotyledonary petiole. It's not a root, though it grows downward. Until below it does start a seedling root (radicle).

Next Growth

From the top of that petiole comes the seedling stem (plumule). To form the trunk's beginnings. And atop it, the first single leaf.

Monocots only have one cotyledon.
D: Plumule: the plumule is the shoot of the seed.
E: Radicle is the root of the seed.
F: Endosperm is the food supply for the seed.

Because it's a Monocot, the palm's guts are totally different from a typical elm or beech tree.

If you've ever seen the stump of a palm tree, you may have noticed there aren't growth rings. Like what you're used to seeing on oak or maple tree stumps.

FOOD TRANSPORT

Because it's a Monocot, the palm's guts are totally different from a typical elm or beech tree.

If you've ever seen the stump of a palm tree, you may have noticed there aren't growth rings. Like what you're used to seeing on oak or maple tree stumps.

FOOD TRANSPORT

A specialized system brings nourishment from the roots upward throughout the palm. It's through many palm bundles. These bundles are networks to move the palm's "food" throughout the plant. It has these parts:

• Phloem tissue, which brings carbs from leaves to other parts of the palm.
  
• Xylem tissue brings water with dissolved minerals.
• Fibrous sheaths, quite inflexible, surround most bundle tissues.

Palm Bundles Scattered Through the Center & Thickly Around the Outer Edge
Very Different From the Typical Oak Tree, etc.

The name for palm tree leaves is palm fronds. Their biological structure is basically like other leafed plants.

NOVEL SURVIVAL APPROACH

Yet they do have some unique aspects.

• New fronds arise upward, in a narrow cylindrical shape. Called a spear. Helping reduce water loss or sunburn of a newly "born" leaf.

Palm trees have their own unique ways to produce flowers. Variable for when they begin to show. Some after about three years old. Others not until 30+ years under their belt!

Palm tree flowers are very small. But they grow out onto a long branching called an Inflorescence.

WHERE & WHEN?

Where the inflorescence grows from the trunk is also helpful for palm identification.

It springs from different areas depending on species:

• Just below the crown of palm fronds
• From amidst the palm's crown
• Or even at the top of the crown. 

A few grow at ground level. Even below, for subterranean growth.

Most palms will have three to five inflorescences grow out each year. Some only one yearly.

This palm in Saddleback Valley California Has Flower Inflorescences Below the Crown Shaft.
Pretty Tiny, Pink Blossoms!

HOW?

The inflorescence begins with a specialized protective leaf covering. Called a bract or spathe. It doesn't look like a leaf, but has a woody look to it.

It opens up to allow the branching to start.

PALM FLOWERS

Along the usually lengthy inflorescence are tons of small flowers. That's what makes palm tree flowers more vivid to the eye. Yet, they don't stay around long. Sometimes a day or less!

Most have yellow to creamy coloring. But some are pink to reddish, green or orange. They also can smell quite nice.

Though numbers of them are stinky!

FIRST - POLLINATE!

Pollination mostly happens with the help of insects. Sometimes it's with the wind's pollen transfer.

Bees Are Valuable Pollinating Insect for Palms

What Is A Palm Tree Flower For?

All in all, the purpose of the flowers, of course, is to form Palm Fruits. Which carry on this gorgeous species, by using their reproductive process. To make fruit, which then gives more seeds.