Subject: How do palm trees reproduce?

From: [email-masked] (Stephen christopher Bateman)
Date: 25 Jul 1996 19:01:02 GMT

Being from California, I see a lot of plam trees. But
I never seem to see palm tree seeds or flowers (producing pollen).
So how do they do it?

Please respond to me through email, and to the group for other people.
Thanks!

Steve Bateman
[email-masked]
Flying along.

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From: [email-masked] (M. Chapin)
Date: 29 Jul 1996 02:32:06 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>,
[email-masked] (Ian Staples) wrote:

~ [email-masked] (Stephen christopher Bateman) writes:
~ 
~ >Being from California, I see a lot of plam trees. But
~ >I never seem to see palm tree seeds or flowers (producing pollen).
~ >So how do they do it?
~ 
~ All palm species that I'm familiar with [and that's not a lot]
~ reproduce by seed.  Most flower each year.  Some may take quite
~ a long time before they first flower (e.g. the "rare" north
~ Queensland Foxtail palm -- now planted in gardens by the 100s
~ of thousands, both here and in California -- probably takes 10
~ or 11 years to first flowering).
~ 
~ Some palm species are "monocarpic" and die after flowering.
~ Most that I know do not do this.  Those that do may grow for
~ a long time and become quite large trees before they flower
~ and die.  My grandmother had a tree in her garden which was 
~ large when I was a child -- perhaps 30 feet tall then -- and
~ was still alive when I went to University.  It has since
~ flowered and died, but I don't recall how long ago.
~ 
~ Cheers,  Ian S.

Palm trees vary widely in form & size, when flowering first they
(generally) produce a "pod" that houses the flower-inflorescens. When the
flowers mature enough the "pod" splits open to reveal an inflorescens
often of several hundreds of small flowers, themselves often
inconspicuous. I am not sure what is supposed to pollinate palms
evolutionarily speaking, but I often see them covered with bees when they
are in flower. After pollintion, you'll see the fruits develop which have
a hard or a fleshy covering. Coconuts are pretty typical of harder, and
larger fruits, while dates are a good example of smaller and fleshier
fruits. The Palm family has contributed so much to mankind throughout the
ages... Anyway, I hope that this helps with your question.

Best wishes,

mattie
__________________________________

~ 
~ 
~ -- 
~ 
~ Ian Staples                        E-mail : [email-masked]
~ c/- P.O. Box 1054 MAREEBA          Phone  : +61 (0)70 928 555 Home 924 847
~ Queensland Australia 4880            Fax  : +61 (0)70 923 593   "   "   "

-- 
After dark, all cats are leopards.   (Zuni proverb)
We will be known by the tracks we leave. (Dakota)
When the legends die, the dreams end; there is no more greatness (Shawnee)
Every animal knows more than you do.  (Nez Perce)

---

From: [email-masked] (Ian Staples)
Date: Sun, 28 Jul 1996 10:19:13 GMT

>I never seem to see palm tree seeds or flowers (producing pollen).

All palm species that I'm familiar with [and that's not a lot]
reproduce by seed.  Most flower each year.  Some may take quite
a long time before they first flower (e.g. the "rare" north
Queensland Foxtail palm -- now planted in gardens by the 100s
of thousands, both here and in California -- probably takes 10
or 11 years to first flowering).

Some palm species are "monocarpic" and die after flowering.
Most that I know do not do this.  Those that do may grow for
a long time and become quite large trees before they flower
and die.  My grandmother had a tree in her garden which was 
large when I was a child -- perhaps 30 feet tall then -- and
was still alive when I went to University.  It has since
flowered and died, but I don't recall how long ago.

Cheers,  Ian S.

-- 

Ian Staples                        E-mail : [email-masked]
c/- P.O. Box 1054 MAREEBA          Phone  : +61 (0)70 928 555 Home 924 847
Queensland Australia 4880            Fax  : +61 (0)70 923 593   "   "   "