Palm or palm-like plant - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Assai is one of the most valuable palms, sometimes called "new mysterious power fruit of the Amazon". It is famous for its anti-oxidant qualities of the fruit juice and as a host of many health benefits - from weight loss, to increased energy and lower cholesterol. The Assai is very interesting fruit that is highly popular as a low-cost beverage in Brazil, where it grows. In the U.S. it becomes the new high-dollar "rich man's" health drink.

This majestic palm is very ornamental, with multiple branches. It lives in seasonally flooded habitats and along water margins. It flowers throughout the year and the harvesting season is usually from July to December. The plant is a fast grower with multiple stems: the average mature wild tree has 4-8 well-developed stems from a single seed and root system; however, a single seed can grow a plant providing up to 25 shoots growing individually. It has pinnate leaves that start from a prominent crownshaft that is reddish color. It has adapted to live in periodically waterlogged and flooded soils by developing special root structures called pneumatophores. It produces both female and male flowers which are quite small and are brown to purple in color. The plant will take full sun as it matures, it also likes high humidity.

Acai produces an edible fruit which grows in bunches. The fruit is round, 1-2 cm in diameter, with a single large seed inside surrounded by stringy fibrous sheaths and a thin oily coating. It begins as a green color and ripens to a dark purple. Each tree stem usually produces four to eight bunches of fruit throughout the year but ripe fruits are the heaviest in the dry season.

The fruit is highly valued by the Amazonense for use in wine or as a juice, and it is an important and popular dietary complement. The dark purple juice is extracted from the small round fruit. The seeds are soaked in water to soften the thin outer shell. The seeds are then squeezed and strained to produce a tasty, dense purple liquid of incomparable flavor. This liquid is served ice cold with sugar and tapioca flour. Some people like it without sugar. It is a nourishing and refreshing treat that is also used to produce ice cream, liquor, mousses and sweets in general. Today, modern science has validated the absolutely remarkable wellness benefits of the Assai fruit. Acai is a rich source of anthocyanins and other phenolics and phyto-nutrients. Acai berries are amongst the most nutritious foods of the Amazon, rich in B vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. The berry is known to harness the following properties:

antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-Inflammatory, antimutagenic, cardiovascular system. It is also an excellent source of dietary fiber which promotes a healthy digestive system. Research studies suggest soluble fibers may help lower blood cholesterol. The insoluble fiber may help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers. Assai contains an amazingly high concentration level of Antioxidants which contribute to combat premature aging. Studies show that Açai provides significantly more antioxidants than such well-respected foods as blueberries, oranges and even red wine. The antioxidant concentration in the Assai fruit is five times higher than that of Gingko Biloba, the popular "brain boosting" herbal supplement that is renowned for its antioxidant properties. Assai is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth.

This palm is also the world's main source of palm hearts: the proliferation of the tree is extraordinary, especially considering its intensive extraction for the delicious heart-of-palm.

Close related species, Euterpe edulis, is a single trunk tree.

Macrozamia moorei is one of the most majestic of the Australian native cycads. Macrozamia moorei is suited to tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate regions. It is a very hardy and versatile species which will adapt to a range of soils and climates providing that drainage is good. Best grown in a sunny position. Excellent plant for large containers or tubs.

One of the hardiest feather (as opposed to fan-) palms, Butia will withstand 14F or 10F when larger. Beautiful blue-green leaves, strongly recurved, make it instantly recognisable. An essential palm for the exotic garden. Tolerant of the weather in high rainfall regions. Also wonderful as a conservatory palm, or even indoors if the light is bright enough. Ultimately it can grow to about 10 or 20 feet, though this will take some years. The fruit from this palm are used to make jelly, hence the name jelly palm.

Cycas revoluta, commonly known as Sago Palm, is a popular ornamental plant with an unusual appearance. It is one of the most primitive living seed plants and is related to conifer and Ginkgo trees. Cycads, in general, are often referred to as "living fossils" due to their ancient origins and their little evolution in the past 200 million years.

The growth habit of Cycas revoluta is characterized by an upright trunk and whorled, stiff feather-like leaves that grow in a circular pattern. Unlike other plants, Sagos produce periodic "flushes" of new leaves, known as a "break," rather than continuously adding foliage. Offsets also begin to grow at the base and occasionally in the crown, providing a source of new plants and the potential to develop unique specimens.

Cycas revoluta is a great choice for Mediterranean climate gardens as it requires only moderate water and full sun or semi-shade. It is also salt tolerant and does not suffer from severe wind or drought, making it an excellent choice for seaside gardens. In cooler climates, it can be grown in a pot in a sheltered location and brought indoors for the winter.

To maintain the plant appearance, dead or damaged leaves should be pruned away as needed. While it doesn't require pruning to stay attractive, a bit of judicious pruning can help maintain the desired shape and size. Regular watering is recommended, with a little extra water during periods of heat or wind. Fertilization every 2-3 months through the summer months with a slow-release or liquid fertilizer can also help achieve the best results.

Regardless of age or size, Cycas revoluta is one of the easiest plants to grow, whether indoors or out, and is a popular choice for landscapes in USDA zones 9-11.

Zombia antillarum or Zombie Palm is a tropical small tree that can grow up to 10-20 ft tall and features a fan-like crown of palm shaped leaves. Native to Hispaniola and other parts of the Caribbean, Zombia antillarum is a popular ornamental palm-like evergreen with short, downward pointing spines natively found on its trunk. This small tree is undoubtedly most suited to full sun or semi-shade positions and prefers moderate amounts of water. As with most tropical palms, the Zombie Palm enjoys higher temperatures, requiring minimum temperatures of 28F and ideal temperatures of 55F for optimum growth.

For residents in colder regions, the Zombie Palm can be grown in a pot and kept indoors during the coldest months of the year. While Zombia antillarum itself is not cold hardy and should not come into contact with frost, it is believed mature plants can survive short periods of excessive cold to temperatures as low as the 30s F if properly cared for. Therefore, to ensure survival of the plant in cold temperatures, it would be beneficial to shelter and keep the plant in a pot and move indoors during the winter months.

This palm is suited for USDA Zone 10-11 and can be grown in subtropical climates. The Zombie Palm is an ideal choice for those looking to add a unique exotic tropical aspect to their garden with its spiny, woven-like trunk and fan of leaves. Although a slow grower, the Zombie Palm requires minimal maintenance and is relatively undemanding. For the more advanced gardener, Zombia antillarum offers a unique and interesting challenge!

This is one of the most beautiful palms in the world. A feather solitary palm to about 20-25ft, with a spectacular, bright red new leaf, which stays red for up to 10 days. The leaflets are also very wide, thick, and shiny so even without a new leaf it is very distinctive with very fat and thick pinnate leaves 10-12 feet long. Easy to grow. This is a must have in the garden.

The Latan Palm (Latania sp.)is one of the best ornamental fan palms. While young plants have beautiful red petioles and leaf margins, mature plants produce a compact crown of very leathery, stiff, blue fan leaves with leafstalks covered in thick, white wool. Latania sp. likes moderately moist soil and needs some watering during the drier months. In warm climates, it may require fortnightly watering. In cooler climates, it should be watered only enough to keep it from drying out, but still allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. In colder regions, it can tolerate periodic frosts and requires only minimal protection from frost, such as a thick mulch layer. During the winter months, do not fertilize or too much water.

Once fully matured, a Latan Palm tree can grow from 15-20 ft tall with a trunk diameter of up to 6-9 inches. At the bottom of the trunk, the leaves grow about 3-4 ft wide. Its crown becomes rounded with a slight taper to the top. The petioles and leaf margins are very beautiful, giving the tree a lush, full look.

The Latan Palm is a great choice for those looking for a robust, tall, and ornamental fan palm suitable for larger gardens. With proper care and maintenance, it can serve as an impressive addition to any home setting.

This palm is very slow growing and can take hot desert conditions as well as snow storms. This is a clustering palm and each stem will die after the flower has produced seed and then the palm will produce a new leaf.

Cultivated for oil from the fruits. The fruit grows in bunches and consists essentially of a soft outer skin, which is reddish orange when ripe, and a fibrous layer covering the nut, composed of a shell and a kernel containing the palm oil. The fruit yields two kinds of oil: palm oil from the fleshy covering and palm kernel oil from the nut. During the processing of palm fruits the first residue of empty bunches, 50 percent of the fresh fruit bunches is used as fuel in the oil-extraction plant. Then anther 20 percent of the fresh fruit bunches are processed in a mechanical press to obtain viscous crude oil. The nuts from 15 percent of the fresh fruit bunches are separated from the solid residue, or palm fibre, and sent to plants specializing in the extraction of palm kernel oil. Purification of the oil produces large amounts of sludge. The oil from the fleshy outer skin of the fruit is customarily included (at about a 5 percent level) in pig and poultry rations as a source of vitamins A and D and to reduce dustiness in the feed.

Beautiful stems of blue green highlighted by white leaf scars. Cabada palm is adaptable to a wide range of soils, light and fertility. It has moderate salt tolerance.