Phoenix dactylifera L.

Family: PALMAE

Genus: Phoenix

Catalan common name: Datiler. Palmer. Palmera.

Spanish common name: Palma. Palma de dátiles. Palmera datilera.

Province distribution: Alacant. Castelló. València.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Saharian

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Symbolic uses.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Garden plants. Gardens.

Description: A palm tree that can grow up to 30 m in height, the trunk is taller, more slender and svelte than Phoenix canariensis. In many specimens it curves in a very decorative manner. The canopy is less frondose that the Canarian palm, with fewer palm leaves with each palm leaf more narrow and paler and greyer and less dense foliage. At the inferior part of the petiole there are hard spines up to 20 cm in length. At the top of the trunk there are many arched, pinnipartate leaves, each one measuring a diverse length of up to 2 metres. These leaves divide themselves into greenish grey segments of up to 40 cm.

Observations: The fruits are truly useful and are elongated berries (dates) that measure 2.5 to 8 cm in length, at first they are yellowish orange and then turn a reddish-chestnut in the sun, are larger than the Canarian Palm.