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(Arecaceae) A monocotyledonous family of mainly tropical trees, the palms. It contains about 2780 species in about 210 genera. The growth form of a palm is characteristic, the plant usually consisting of an unbranched trunk with a crown of large leaves at the apex. When branching does occur, e.g. in Hyphaene (doum palms), it is dichotomous. The leaves may be pinnate, as in the feather palms, or the leaflets may all arise from the tip of the midrib, as in fan palms. Palm inflorescences are large and may contain thousands of flowers in a panicle or spike. In some palms, e.g. Metroxylon sagu (sago palm), the inflorescence is terminal, and the plant dies after flowering. The fruits are usually one-seeded drupes or berries, which may attain a considerable size. Many palms are of economic importance, examples being the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), and the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis).
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