Difference between revisions of "Phoenix dactylifera"
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| − | [[Image:Date Palm view Palm Desert.JPG|250px|thumb| | + | [[Image:Phoenix_dactylifera0.jpg|left|thumb|350px|In habitat, Merzouga, Morocco. Multi-stemmed specimens.]] |
| + | {{Palmbox | ||
| + | |image=Phoenix dactylifera2.jpg | ||
| + | |image_caption=Date Palm at Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara Desert, Morocco. Single-stemmed specimens. | ||
| + | |genus='''''Phoenix''''' | ||
| + | |species='''''dactylifera''''' | ||
| + | |continent=africa | ||
| + | |habit=solitary or clumped | ||
| + | |leaf_type=pinnate | ||
| + | |height=10-30 m | ||
| + | |trunk_diameter=40-60 cm | ||
| + | |sun_exposure=full | ||
| + | |watering= | ||
| + | |soil_type= | ||
| + | |common_names=Date Palm | ||
| + | |synonyms= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{Palm Page}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Habitat and Distribution== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Probably native to northern Africa and southwestern Asia; exact natural distribution unknown due to extensive cultivation for at least 8,000 years. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Description== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Single- or multiple-trunked, pinnate palm to 15-25 m (rarely 30 m) tall. The trunk is 40 - 60 cm diameter, often with a much wider base. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Rounded crown of dark green feather leaves 3-5 m long, with pinnae to 20-40 cm long closely spaced along the rachis. Like all ''Phoenix'', it has long, sharp spines at the bases of the leaves, which are formed from modified leaflets. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The species is dioecious, with separate male and female trees. The fruit are yellow or orange when ripe (turning brown when dried), 3-5 (-7) cm long and 2-3 cm diameter, with a large seed; the fruit pulp is edible and delicious, and is the basis for a major fruit crop of global importance (dates). They are produced on long, densely branched panicles. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Cultivation== | ||
| + | Date Palms are grown in extensive orchards throughout southwestern Asia and northern Africa wherever adequate groundwater supplies are available. Major produces include Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia. More recently, orchards have been established in the New World in Mexico and southern California. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is also grown as an ornamental tree; it is popular with people starting growing palms for the first time due to the very easy availability of seed; the stones from shop-bought dates (even dried dates) will grow readily. As an ornamental plant, it is however less attractive than many other palms, with sparser, more rigid foliage (less graceful) than the related Canary Island Date Palm ''[[Phoenix canariensis]]''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It will tolerate frosts down to about -10°C but only for brief periods, and cannot tolerate cold wet winter weather as well as ''P. canariensis''; this makes cultivation outdoors in e.g. the British Isles impossible, unlike ''P. canariensis'' which can be grown there in milder areas. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Photo gallery== | ||
| + | [[Image:Date Palm view Palm Desert.JPG|250px|thumb|left|An avenue of Date Palms in southern California]] | ||
<br clear="all"> | <br clear="all"> | ||
{{SpeciesListBackLink}} | {{SpeciesListBackLink}} | ||
[[Category:PHOENIX|dactylifera]] | [[Category:PHOENIX|dactylifera]] | ||
Revision as of 02:29, 31 January 2010
| Phoenix dactylifera | ||||||||
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 Date Palm at Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara Desert, Morocco. Single-stemmed specimens. | ||||||||
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Habitat and Distribution
Probably native to northern Africa and southwestern Asia; exact natural distribution unknown due to extensive cultivation for at least 8,000 years.
Description
Single- or multiple-trunked, pinnate palm to 15-25 m (rarely 30 m) tall. The trunk is 40 - 60 cm diameter, often with a much wider base.
Rounded crown of dark green feather leaves 3-5 m long, with pinnae to 20-40 cm long closely spaced along the rachis. Like all Phoenix, it has long, sharp spines at the bases of the leaves, which are formed from modified leaflets.
The species is dioecious, with separate male and female trees. The fruit are yellow or orange when ripe (turning brown when dried), 3-5 (-7) cm long and 2-3 cm diameter, with a large seed; the fruit pulp is edible and delicious, and is the basis for a major fruit crop of global importance (dates). They are produced on long, densely branched panicles.
Cultivation
Date Palms are grown in extensive orchards throughout southwestern Asia and northern Africa wherever adequate groundwater supplies are available. Major produces include Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia. More recently, orchards have been established in the New World in Mexico and southern California.
It is also grown as an ornamental tree; it is popular with people starting growing palms for the first time due to the very easy availability of seed; the stones from shop-bought dates (even dried dates) will grow readily. As an ornamental plant, it is however less attractive than many other palms, with sparser, more rigid foliage (less graceful) than the related Canary Island Date Palm Phoenix canariensis.
It will tolerate frosts down to about -10°C but only for brief periods, and cannot tolerate cold wet winter weather as well as P. canariensis; this makes cultivation outdoors in e.g. the British Isles impossible, unlike P. canariensis which can be grown there in milder areas.
Photo gallery
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.
