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Synonyms: Acristaceae O. F. Cook; Borassaceae Schultz Sch.; Caryotaceae O. F. Cook, nom. nud.; Ceroxylaceae Vines; Chamaedoreaceae O. F. Cook; Coryphaceae Schultz Sch.; Geonomataceae O. F. Cook; Iriarteaceae O. F. Cook; Lepidocaryaceae O. F. Cook; Malortieaceae O. F. Cook; Manicariaceae O. F. Cook; Nypaceae Brongn. ex Le Maout & Decne.; Palmae Juss., nom. cons.; Phoenicaceae Burnett; Phytelephantaceae Mart. ex Perleb; Pseudophoenicaceae O. F. Cook; Sabalaceae Schultz Sch.; Sagaceae Schultz Sch.; Synechanthaceae O. F. Cook
Common name: Palm Family.
Number of genera 205. Number of species 2675.
Angiosperm. Liliopsida.
Disseminule a dehisced fruit, or an intact or entire fruit, or an incomplete fruit with epicarp absent and mesocarp exposed, or an incomplete fruit with epicarp and mesocarp absent and endocarp exposed, or a seed.
Fruits
Pistil(s) 1; 1-pistillate. Fruit anthocarp, or pericarpium; simple, or multiple; drupe, or nuculanium (Cocos nucifera Spjut Fig. 39A); baccetum (Phoenix); berry dehiscent; simple; glans (Calamus), or tryma (Astrocaryium and 3 families: Arecaceae, Juglandaceae, Thymelaeaceae); without persistent central column; within accessory organ(s), or not within accessory organ(s); within calyx and corolla, or imbricated scales (persistent, enlarged and irregularly splitting); 1-seeded to more than 1 but less than 10-seeded; 1(–10)-seeded; less than 1 cm long, or more than 10 cm long; to 80 cm long; (1–)3(–4)-carpellate; with carpels not radiating at maturity; without sterile carpels; in transection terete; apex not beaked; indehiscent, or dehiscent (or Cronquist: "seldom more or less dehiscent. pericarp splitting as spp. of Astrocaryum & Socratea"). Dehiscent unit seed(s), or endocarp(s). Dehiscent passively (assumed); without replum. Epicarp brown (all shades), or green, or black; shiny, or dull; durable; glabrous (without hairs), or not glabrous (with hairs); hairs not glandular; with armature, or without armature; with prickles; without armature glochidiate; smooth, or not smooth; corky-warted, or fibrous, or scaly (scales imbricated); without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp present; fleshy, or thin, or fibrous, or dry, or hard; composed of 1 unified layer; without lactiform cavity system. Endocarp present, or absent; not separating from exocarp; bony, or firm, or woody, or thick, or thin, or fibrous; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; smooth, or not smooth; with wrinkles; with operculum, or without operculum; without secretory cavities; without longitudinal ridges; with apical pore(s), or medial pore(s), or basal pore(s); 3-porate (or more). Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.
Seeds
Aril absent. Seed larger than minute; 50+ mm long; circular, or oblong, or ovate; not bowl shaped, or bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity with food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent, or present (many Calamoideae). Testa absent, or present; adhering to endocarp; without embryo surrounded and capped by viscid tissue; surface smooth, or unsmooth; surface with depressed features, or discreet raised features, or merged raised features; surface pitted; surface warted; surface elaborately sculptured, or veined, or reticulate, or wrinkled, or ribbed (longitudinally); without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other; without glands; without bristles; without wings; without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; brown (all shades); membranous, or coriaceous; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding food reserve (and absent). Raphe conspicuous, or inconspicuous. Endosperm development nuclear, or cellular (nuclear and later cellular); copious; cartilaginous, or hard (including subwoody); sem transparent; smooth, or ruminate (invaginated by testa in Corypheae & Phoeniceae, dissected in Zombia, or perforate in Thrinax); without starch; with oils, hemicellulose, and proteins (oil with large amounts of lauric acid); without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apical lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor.
Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; partially filling testa (with food reserve); 0.2–0.5 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; axile and centric, or peripheral; conical, or linear, or turbinate; straight, or C-shaped; without coleoptile; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; without stomata; not green; with 1 cotyledon. Cotyledons one and terminal with lateral plumule; not modified into scutellum; not circinately coiled. Hypocotyl-radicle vestigial; straight (minute); not thickened. Plumule moderately developed (minute); lateral and fitting into groove along terminal cotyledon, or lateral and not fitting into groove along terminal cotyledon.
Distribution
Pantropical, pansubtropical, and pantemperate (warmest part of the temperate zone). New World, Old World. North America, Middle America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia Major, Asia Minor, southeastern Asia, Australia, Oceania.
Notes
Embryo 1–3.5 times longer than wide.
Weed information
No USA noxious weeds.
Listed seeds
ISTA listed seeds.
ISTA listed seeds: -- Areca alba Bory = Dictyosperma album (Bory) H. Wendl. & Drude ex Scheff. -- Areca lutescens hort. = Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) Beentje & J. Dransf. -- Attalea cohune Mart. -- Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng. -- Borassus flabellifer L. -- Chamaedorea cataractarum Mart. -- Chamaedorea elegans Mart. -- Chamaedorea seifrizii Burret -- Chamaerops excelsa hort., non Thunb. = Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl. -- Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl. = Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) Beentje & J. Dransf.-- Cocos nucifera L. -- Cocos weddelliana H. Wendl. = Microcoelum weddellianum (H. Wendl.) H. E. Moore -- Dictyosperma album (Bory) H. Wendl. & Drude ex Scheff. -- Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) Beentje & J. Dransf.-- Elaeis guineensis Jacq. -- Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortes -- Euterpe edulis Mart. -- Howea forsteriana (C. Moore & F. Muell.) Becc. -- Kentia forsteriana C. Moore & F. Muell. = Howea forsteriana (C. Moore & F. Muell.) Becc. -- Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. ex Mart. -- Lytocaryum weddellianum (H. Wendl.) Toledo-- Metroxylon sagu Rottb. -- Microcoelum weddellianum (H. Wendl.) H. E. Moore = Lytocaryum weddellianum (H. Wendl.) Toledo-- Neanthe bella O. F. Cook = Chamaedorea elegans Mart.-- Nypa fruticans Wurmb -- Orbignya cohune (Mart.) Dahlgren ex Standl. = Attalea cohune Mart. -- Orbignya huebneri Burret = Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng. -- Orbignya oleifera Burret = Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng. -- Orbignya phalerata Mart. = Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng. -- Phoenix canariensis hort. ex Chabaud -- Phoenix dactylifera L. -- Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien -- Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl. -- Symbols: aagricultural and vegetable seeds (Table 2A Part 1); ttree and shrub species (Table 2A Part 2); fflower, spice, herb, and medicinal seeds (Table 2A Part 3); wweed seeds. -- Last updated September 2008.
Accepted genera
Acanthophoenix H. Wendl. -- Acoelorraphe H. Wendl. -- Acrocomia Mart. -- Actinokentia Dammer -- Actinorhytis H. Wendl. & Drude -- Aiphanes Willd. -- Allagoptera Nees -- Alloschmidia H. E. Moore -- Alsmithia H. E. Moore -- Ammandra O. F. Cook -- Aphandra Barfod -- Archontophoenix H. Wendl. & Drude -- Areca L. -- Arenga Labill., nom. cons. -- Asterogyne H. Wendl. -- Astrocaryum G. Mey., nom. cons. -- Attalea Kunth -- Bactris Jacq. ex Scop. -- Balaka Becc. -- Barcella (Trail) Trail ex Drude -- Basselinia Vieill. -- Beccariophoenix Jum. & H. Perrier -- Bentinckia Berry ex Roxb. -- Bismarckia Hildebrandt & H. Wendl. -- Borassodendron Becc. -- Borassus L. -- Brahea Mart. ex Endl. -- Brassiophoenix Burret -- Brongniartikentia Becc. -- Burretiokentia Pic. Serm. -- Butia (Becc.) Becc. -- Calamus L. -- Calospatha Becc. -- Calyptrocalyx Blume -- Calyptrogyne H. Wendl. -- Calyptronoma Griseb. -- Campecarpus H. Wendl. ex Becc. -- Carpentaria Becc. -- Carpoxylon H. Wendl. & Drude -- Caryota L. -- Catoblastus H. Wendl. -- Ceratolobus Blume -- Ceroxylon Bonpl. ex DC. -- Chamaedorea Willd., nom. cons. -- Chamaerops L. -- Chambeyronia Vieill. -- Chelyocarpus Dammer -- Chuniophoenix Burret -- Clinosperma Becc. -- Clinostigma H. Wendl. -- Coccothrinax Sarg. -- Cocos L. -- Colpothrinax Griseb. & H. Wendl. -- Copernicia Mart. ex Endl. -- Corypha L. -- Cryosophila Blume -- Cyphokentia Brongn. -- Cyphophoenix H. Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Cyphosperma H. Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Cyrtostachys Blume -- Daemonorops Blume -- Deckenia H. Wendl. ex Seem. -- Desmoncus Mart., nom. cons. -- Dictyocaryum H. Wendl. -- Dictyosperma H. Wendl. & Drude -- Drymophloeus Zipp. -- Dypsis Noronha ex Mart. -- Elaeis Jacq. -- Eleiodoxa (Becc.) Burret -- Eremospatha (G. Mann & H. Wendl.) H. Wendl. -- Eugeissona Griff. -- Euterpe Mart., nom. cons. -- Gastrococos Morales -- Gaussia H. Wendl. -- Geonoma Willd. -- Goniocladus Burret -- Gronophyllum Scheff. -- Guihaia J. Dransf. et al. -- Gulubia Becc. -- Hedyscepe H. Wendl. & Drude -- Heterospathe Scheff. -- Howea Becc. -- Hydriastele H. Wendl. & Drude -- Hyophorbe Gaertn. -- Hyospathe Mart. -- Hyphaene Gaertn. -- Iguanura Blume -- Iriartea Ruiz & Pav. -- Iriartella H. Wendl. -- Itaya H. E. Moore -- Jessenia H. Karst. -- Johannesteijsmannia H. E. Moore -- Juania Drude -- Jubaea Kunth -- Jubaeopsis Becc. -- Kentiopsis Brongn. -- Kerriodoxa J. Dransf. -- Korthalsia Blume -- Laccospadix Drude & H. Wendl. -- Laccosperma (G. Mann & H. Wendl.) Drude -- Latania Comm. ex Juss. -- Lavoixia H. E. Moore -- Lemurophoenix J. Dransf. -- Leopoldinia Mart. -- Lepidocaryum Mart. -- Lepidorrhachis (H. Wendl. & Drude) O. F. Cook -- Licuala Wurmb -- Linospadix H. Wendl. -- Livistona R. Br. -- Lodoicea Comm. ex DC. -- Loxococcus H. Wendl. & Drude -- Lytocaryum Toledo -- Mackeea H. E. Moore -- Manicaria Gaertn. -- Marojejya Humbert -- Masoala Jum. -- Mauritia L. f. -- Mauritiella Burret -- Maxburretia Furtado -- Maximiliana Mart., nom. cons. -- Medemia Württemb. ex H. Wendl. -- Metroxylon Rottb., nom. cons. -- Micronoma H. Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Moratia H. E. Moore -- Myrialepis Becc. -- Nannorrhops H. Wendl. -- Nenga H. Wendl. & Drude -- Neonicholsonia Dammer -- Neoveitchia Becc. -- Nephrosperma Balf. f. -- Normanbya F. Muell. ex Becc. -- Nypa Steck -- Oenocarpus Mart. -- Oncocalamus (G. Mann & H. Wendl.) G. Mann & H. Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook. f. -- Oncosperma Blume -- Orania Zipp. -- Oraniopsis (Becc.) J. Dransf. et al. -- Palandra O. F. Cook -- Parajubaea Burret -- Pelagodoxa Becc. -- Phoenicophorium H. Wendl. -- Phoenix L. -- Pholidocarpus Blume -- Pholidostachys H. Wendl. -- Physokentia Becc. -- Phytelephas Ruiz & Pav. -- Pigafetta (Blume) Becc., nom. cons. -- Pinanga Blume -- Plectocomia Mart. ex Blume -- Plectocomiopsis Becc. -- Podococcus G. Mann & H. Wendl. -- Pogonotium J. Dransf. -- Polyandrococos Barb. Rodr. -- Prestoea Hook. f., nom. cons. -- Pritchardia Seem. & H. Wendl., nom. cons. -- Pritchardiopsis Becc. -- Pseudophoenix H. Wendl. ex Sarg. -- Ptychococcus Becc. -- Ptychosperma Labill. -- Raphia P. Beauv. -- Ravenea Bouché ex H. Wendl. -- Reinhardtia Liebm. -- Retispatha J. Dransf. -- Rhapidophyllum H. Wendl. & Drude -- Rhapis L. f. ex Aiton -- Rhopaloblaste Scheff. -- Rhopalostylis H. Wendl. & Drude -- Roscheria H. Wendl. ex Balf. f. -- Roystonea O. F. Cook -- Sabal Adans. -- Salacca Reinw. -- Satakentia H. E. Moore -- Satranala J. Dransf. & Beentje -- Schippia Burret -- Sclerosperma G. Mann & H. Wendl. -- Serenoa Hook. f. -- Siphokentia Burret -- Socratea H. Karst. -- Sommieria Becc. -- Syagrus Mart. -- Synechanthus H. Wendl. -- Tectiphiala H. E. Moore -- Thrinax Sw. -- Trachycarpus H. Wendl. -- Trithrinax Mart. -- Veillonia H. E. Moore -- Veitchia H. Wendl., nom. cons. -- Verschaffeltia H. Wendl. -- Voanioala J. Dransf. -- Wallichia Roxb. -- Washingtonia H. Wendl., nom. cons. -- Welfia H. Wendl. -- Wendlandiella Dammer -- Wettinia Poepp. -- Wodyetia A. K. Irvine -- Ynesa O. F. Cook Zombia L. H. Bailey
References specific to this family
Cronquist page 1082. Uhl, N.W. & J. Dransfield. 1987. Genera palmarum. Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas.
General references
Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Gaertner, J. 1788–1805. De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. The Author, Stuttgart, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) and 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) and 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gunn, C.R. and C.A. Ritchie. 1988. Identification of disseminules listed in the Federal Noxious Weed Act. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1719:1–313, Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, and J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 and amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 36:513–660, Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182.
Illustrations
Acceptable endocarps, few mesocarps, some entire F. Disseminule illustration(s): fruit, or fruit incomplete, or fruit incomplete, or embryo. Fruit illustration(s): Uhl & Dransfield (1987), Gunn & Ritchie. Fruit illustration(s): Uhl & Dransfield (1987). Fruit illustration(s): Uhl & Dransfield (1987), Gaertner (1788). Embryo illustration(s): UHl & Dransfield (1987), Gaertner, Martin, Gunn & Ritchie.
• Fruit. 1 of 15. Chamaedorea costaricana Oerst.: fruit. • Fruit. 2 of 15. Chamaedorea costaricana Oerst.: fruit. • Fruit and seed. 3 of 15. Eremospatha hookeri (G. Mann & H. A. Wendland) H. A. Wendland: fruit and seed. • Fruit. 4 of 15. Geonoma binervia Oerst.: fruit. • Seed. 5 of 15. Geonoma binervia Oerst.: seed. • Fruit. 6 of 15. Johannesteijsmannia altifrons (H. G. L. Reichenbach. & Zollinger.) H.E. Moore: fruiting head. • Fruit. 7 of 15. Nypa fruiticans Wurmb: fruit. • Fruit. 8 of 15. Attalea eichleri (Drude) Andr. Hend.: fruit. • Fruit. 9 of 15. Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng.: fruit. • Seed. 10 of 15. Phoenix dactylifera L.: seeds. • Fruit and seed. 11 of 15. Phytelephas macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa Ruiz & Pav.: fruit and seed. • Fruit. 12 of 15. Pritchardia pacifica Seem. & H. Wendl.: fruit. • Seed. 13 of 15. Pritchardia pacifica Seem. & H. Wendl.: seed. • Embryo. 14 of 15. Copernicia alba Morong: embryo. • Embryo. 15 of 15. Sabal mexicana Mart.: embryo.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz. 2000 onwards. Family guide for fruits and seeds: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 12th April 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
