Trees Around The World Tour - TRUE DATE PALM

Phoenix dactylifera     |     Arecaceae     |      true date palm

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This particular tree was a gift from Iraqi students to the Dean of the College of Agriculture for support in establishing a college of agriculture in Iraq. The species is dioecious. This means that male and female flowers are on different trees. One male plant can pollinate 100 females. In cultivation, to ensure high yields, humans must climb the tree to pollinate it, and then thin fruit as it develops several times before harvest. This is considered a holy tree, mentioned often in both the Bible and Koran.