Phoenix dactylifera Date Palm
Family
Arecaceae
Genus
Phoenix
Species
dactylifera
Phoenix dactylifera, commonly known as date or date palm, is a flowering plant
species in the palm family, Arecaceae, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Although
its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from
lands around Iraq. The species is widely cultivated and is naturalized in many tropical
and subtropical regions worldwide. Date trees typically reach about 70–75 feet (21–23 m)
in height, growing singly or forming a clump with several stems from a single root
system. The leaves are 4–6 metres (13–20 ft) long, with spines on the petiole, and
pinnate, with about 150 leaflets. The leaflets are 30 cm (12 in) long and 2 cm (0.79 in)
wide. The full span of the crown ranges from 6–10 m (20–33 ft).