Palm

Palm, any of over 3,000 species of trees, shrubs, and vines of the family Palmae, native mainly to tropical and subtropical regions. Palms are characterized by an unbranched stem bearing a cluster of featherlike (pinnate) or fanlike (palmate) leaves at its crown. Flowers are greenish, borne in spikes, and the fruits are covered with a leathery, fibrous, outer layer. Palm products are of great economic importance: the coconut and date palms produce staple crops; wax is obtained from the carnauba palm; the African oil palm and the coconut palm yield oil used in food, soap, toiletries, and industrial processes. Fibers yielded include rattan and raffia.