Neodypsis decaryi/ Triangle palm

The palm family (Palmae or Arecaceae: both are accepted) is the only family in the order Arecales. Nearly 4,000 species of the palm family are known. Palm fossils dating back 40 million years have been found. Although some winter-hardy palm species exist (suitable for the Netherlands and Belgium), most species occur naturally in the tropics or subtropics.
Palms usually have a false trunk. The plants develop a single stem with a growing point. The stem consists of stacked leaf bases and contains no bark. As a result, the plant cannot grow in width like true trees. A young palm must reach a certain width before it can start growing upwards.
About 5,000 years ago, a palm species was cultivated for the first time. This was the date palm in the Middle East. Edible fruits include the awarra, date, coconut, moriche, peach palm, and salak. Palm oil is used for food preparation, soap, and fuel. Palms also provide materials for household items, such as rattan for a carpet beater and coconut fiber for a coir mat. Less well-known are products like sugar from the sugar palm, soap from the coconut, and hearts of palm. Indigenous populations often have many more applications.