| A palm tree symbolizes life and its continuance, as | | | | harvested from palms. Palms produce coir ropes, |
| well as joy and happiness. Dante mentions that | | | | mats, and bags, and palm oil is extracted from palms, |
| Christians travelling to the Holy Land were known as | | | | along with palm wine. |
| "palmeros." palm trees have been a part of myths as | | | | In the US, different species of palm are native to |
| well as religion. The palm tree in the primal garden, | | | | Florida, California, Hawaii, Southern Georgia, Mississippi, |
| the Garden of Eden, was known to be the tree of | | | | Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. In fact, South Carolina |
| Life. Palm trees were also where the Goddess | | | | is popularly known as the Palmetto State after the |
| Astarte or Tamar resided. | | | | palms that line the coast. |
| A festival known as "palm Sunday" is celebrated by | | | | As with all other things, many species of palm are |
| Christians to commemorate the entry of Jesus into | | | | facing extinction and are under threat from |
| Jerusalem just a few days before his crucifixion. | | | | urbanisation, natural disasters, hybridization, and a lack |
| People welcomed Jesus by waving palm fronds and | | | | of knowledge amongst common folk. Destruction of |
| carpeting his path with palm leaves. | | | | natural habitats, forest clearing operations, mining, |
| The palm family of trees has approximately 202 | | | | clearing of mangroves, and dumping of trash are all |
| genera and 2,600 species. The palms are native to | | | | detrimental to the survival of palms. Like other plants, |
| tropical and subtropical climates, and commonly | | | | palms are also prone to destruction by nature and |
| known palms are date, coconut, and areca nut. | | | | disease. |
| Known to have existed around 80 million years ago, | | | | Ornamental palms are a luxury and can cost from |
| palms are among the oldest varieties of flowering | | | | fifty to several hundred dollars. |
| plants. | | | | Today the palm, the "Prince among trees," needs |
| The trunks of the palm have been used since ancient | | | | care and attention. Otherwise, a tree that has lasted |
| times to build catamarans or special boats. Dates are | | | | centuries will not remain for centuries to come. |