Date Palm Information
The date palm has an ancient heritage. Archaeologists have found evidence that people in eastern Arabia grew this fruit-bearing tree as early as 4,000 B.C., according to "Fruits of Warm Climates" by Julia F. Morton. Does this Spark an idea?
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Identification
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The tree's Latin name, "Phoenix dactylifera L.," comes from the Phoenician word meaning "date palm," according to "Date Palm Cultivation." Authors A. Zaid and P.F. de Wet say the name may also be a reference to the tree's ability to regrow after fire, similar to the mythical bird, the phoenix.
Features
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Date palms feature a straight, columnar trunk topped by green palm fronds with feather-like leaves. Date palms can grow as tall as 120 feet.
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Time Frame
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Female date palms produce oblong fruit 1 to 3 inches long. It takes about seven months for a date to ripen from green to reddish-brown.
Significance
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Date palms are not just a source of food in the form of fruit and sugar. They can provide fuel and building material, as well as fibrous material for basket making and weaving.
Geography
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Date palms need full sun and a warm climate in which the temperature does not dip below 20 F. In the United States, date palms grow in Florida, California, Texas and Arizona.
Considerations
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More than a dozen species of the genus Phoenix exist, most of them ornamental trees. One of the most popular is the Phoenix canariensis Chabeaud, or the Canary Island Palm, according to "Date Palm Cultivation."
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit dattes et palmier image by Melisback from Fotolia.com
