Why is it Called a Palm Tree?
Ancient grains, dates and other edible ingredients come from palm trees, as does elegant lumber for iconic furniture in the drawing rooms of the wealthy. But why is it called a palm tree? While it’s an important economic
resource, did you know that the name involves more than trees with rope-like leaves and other iconic features? Besides long-standing ties with nearby river beds, some little-known facts explain why palm trees get their name.
In botanical terms, a palm tree is any tree or shrub that falls into the Arecaceae family. If you have never heard of it, the Arecaceae family is one of the richest plant families in the world – boasting almost 3,000 species.
It is speculated that the genus of Arecaceae probably originated in the Arabian Peninsula and Asia, eventually occupying tropical and semi-tropical regions across Africa, Europe and the Americas. Today, palm-like plants can be found almost everywhere, from deep to semi-arid areas.
Most often, palm trees are associated with beaches, tropics and desert fields. The reason for this is that palm trees love the heat – even more so than other types of desert plants. Moreover, palm trees are known to be excellent conservators of water and can endure drought periods for a considerable amount of time.
It is for these reasons that palm trees are so often referred to as ‘desert oases’. They can grow in subtropical climates, even if they lack adequate water supplies. And of course, the wide spread of palmate leaves gives them a prestigious, iconic look.
In light of these patterns and provenance, scholars believe that the name ‘palm’ may have developed from the resemblance of the outspread leaves to the shape of a hand. It could have been a sandy, life-saving area surrounded by deep desert of foot-crushing sand.
Moreover, palm trees can be found in bays and delta areas that are close to water bodies. This is because these areas are well-watered, thanks to the regular inflow of ocean tides and small water transpiration. That’s why almost all popular beaches around the world – from Hawaii to the beautiful Mediterranean Sea – are characterised by tall and luscious palm trees.
A Unique and Inevitable Look
What makes a traditional palm tree look unique? To begin with, its bark is quite different from what is seen in other trees – with different shapes, sizes and textures. It is typically finely wrinkled and light in color, ranging from a pale greyish-white to a deep yellow. The palm tree base is usually either cylindrical or cylindrical-ovoid.
These organic shapes are certainly not found in other trees. This also explains why palm trees are usually planted alone, rather than in forests and groves. And unlike other species of trees, planting a palm tree involves inserting an entire plant into the ground – known as “tent-style”. This is done by slicing off part of the base and embedding the entire seedling in the soil.
In terms of leaves, palm trees come with some unique morphological features. The leaves appear in one of two different shapes and sizes – either fan-shaped, called palmate, or feather-shaped, called pinnate. This gives the palm tree a distinctive look, and along with the unusual trunks and bark, it is easy to understand what inspired their name.
Another Piece of the Puzzle
It is not just the physical characteristics that give the palm tree its unique name. Besides their evident, desert-like resilience, palm trees are also known to be incredibly useful in terms of food, wood and a variety of other materials. From coconuts to olives and dates, these trees carry a variety of edible product that have been used since ancient times.
In the Middle East, date palms were deeply connected with the region, so much so that they were included in ancient creation myths and religious rites. These palms were said to originate from two ‘Tree of Life’ trees in a garden which were believed to symbolize eternal life.
This is why many palm trees are often represented with religious and spiritual symbolism in architecture, art, and literature. From India to North Africa and the Middle East, the palm tree has been a symbol of power and victory in numerous societies across the ages. This may have had some influence on the naming of these trees.
In areas of North Africa, date palms were an essential part of nearly all major rituals and celebrations. People reproduced these trees in pottery and placed them near tombs and areas of religious significance, which subsequently led to the use of palm trees as a symbol of life and eternal age-old values.
Symbolism of Life and Victory
The palm tree has also been associated with important historical episodes over the centuries. For instance, the Syrian city of Palmyra is named after the palm tree because of its abundance in the area. Palmyra itself is arguably one of the most successful sites of ancient Middle Eastern urbanism with many examples of influential architectural and political grandeur.
In the Book of Exodus, the Hebrews are said to have been watered with a palm tree when they were saved from slavery in Egypt. The centrality of the palm tree also extends to Jewish symbolic culture, where a palm branch is said to signify victory, truth and God’s favor.
The palm tree has also been part of traditional African and Central American culture for centuries. In some African tribes, dates and the palm tree have been seen as the food of kings, heroes and the gods. This is why mention of palm trees can be found in many African writings and sayings.
In Central America, the Mayan people have venerated the palm tree since ancient times. The Mayan pantheon included gods who presented a close relationship with the palm tree as they thwarted agricultural activities. As such, the palm tree has always been revered in Central American tradition, with sacred palm trees standing in temples and other important civic places.
A Venerated Place in Ornamental Horticulture
Palm trees are widely appreciated by industries such as ornamental horticulture for their regal grandeur and unique beauty. Besides its cultural and religious implications, the palm tree has been associated with a sense of magnificence and prosperity in modern times. Palm tree groves, for instance, are often found in aristocratic gardens and upper-class areas.
As a commercial crop, the palm tree is also widely used to provide a wide range of edible products including dates, coconuts, and vegetable oil. From cooking to baking and thousands of household uses, palm oil is an essential ingredient in many of our favourite foods.
At the same time, it’s becoming increasingly important to appreciate the traditional and historic values of palm trees. This is especially true in parts of the world where palm trees have long been held as a symbol of life, victory, and eternity – values that are as important today as they ever were. Of that we can all be certain.
The use of Palm Trees in Rituals and Sacred Places
The origin of the palm tree lies in the arecaceae family and its presumed origin inthe Arabian peninsula and Asia. Similar to other desert plants, what makes the palm tree unique is its heat-loving nature and resilience as a water sender.
This, combined with its fan or feather-shaped leaves, has been said to be the reason for its name. Indeed, palm treesare often associated with beaches and the tropics, oftenlending the area a sense of luxurious beauty.
In terms of mythology and symbolism, palm trees have had long standing ties with religious and spiritual ideology. They have been present in ancient creation myths and have beenrequired to feature in important rituals and celebrations.
In Jewish and some African culture, a palm branch symbolises victory, truth and God’s favor.
Palm trees are becoming increasingly popular in ornamental horticulture and are now used being cultivated as commercial crops. From vegetable oils to coconuts and dates, palm tree products have been of large importance for many generations.
Overall, understanding why palm trees are so named is therefore an interesting exercise in appreciation of tradition and how it intertwines with modern-day demands and usage of this lovely and enduring plant.
The Role of Palm Trees in Local Communities and Cultures
Palm trees have been integral to the culture and history of many regions and countries. They have been and continue to be of great importance to local communities. In addition to providing edible products, people and civilizations have found many uses for palm trees.
The palm tree is an important part of many religious rituals and celebrations, especially in the Middle East and Africa. It also has a role in architecture, art and literature, where it often symbolizes power, life and victory. This symbolism is demonstrated in the Syrian city of Palmyra, which was named after the palm tree.
Palm trees have also been an integral part of the history of the Americas. Mayan culture, for example, has venerated the palm tree for centuries and even today it is seen as a symbol of life and eternal values. In terms of ornamental horticulture, palm trees are now being used in gardens and estates all over the world.
In addition to their many uses and spiritual significance, palm trees have also been appreciated for their incredible beauty. From their strikingly different bark and trunks to their wide spread of palmate leaves, the palm tree is an incredibly elegant and majestic symbol.
This venerable beauty, in combination with its many uses, is what makes the palm tree so special and beloved across cultures.
