Palms are uniquely tropical trees. Only one or two species are able to
survive a frost, so their range is restricted mostly to the tropics.
Palms are more closely related to grasses and orchids than they are to
other kinds of trees. Palm tree leaves are used as thatch for roofs and
some palm trees are grown as ornamentals. The most common used palm tree
is coconut palm.
Coconut palm, latin name: cocos nucifera, is edible in both fresh and
dried form. Dried coconut leaves are used as a source of oil. When it is
boiled in water, the oil is released and skimmed off for later use. The
oil is used to make marine soaps which lathers in sea water. Palm oils
have a variety of household and industrial uses.
Dried leaves are also used to make ropes. They are ideal for toppings
on beverages. The wild date, palmyra, doum palms, raffia palms, and nipa
are most commonly used for flavoring wine. The simplest fuel usages of
palms are exemplified by the burning of dry palm leaves. Dried leaves of
nut palms is carved into beads and buttons. The palmyra palm has been
used for making strings for musical instruments. Dried palm leaves are
also used for various decorative purposes.
History
