DATE PALM “11M Palm”

DID YOU KNOW? In addition to the commemorative palm found in this garden (“11M Palm”), there is another specimen at Santo Antonio de Herbón’s convent. This specimen has been considered to be a singular tree in Galicia. It was planted together with another specimen following the tradition that begun in the 15th century by Juan Rodríguez de la Cámara, a writer from Padrón.

It belongs to the Arecaceae family and the Coryphoideae subfamily. It is present from the south of the Mediterranean basin (Senegal and southern Morocco) to Pakistan. It is also present in the east and south of the Iberian Peninsula, especially because of the dispersal of its fruits by birds and mammals, but it is not present far from the coast.

Common names: “palmera”, “palmera datilera” (Spanish); “palma”, “palmeira datileira” (Galician); “date palm” (English).

Etymology:

• Phoenix: it is a generic name that comes from the Greek word “φοῖνιξ” or “φοίνικος” (phoinikos), which is the name used for the date palm, used by Theophrastus and Pliny the Elder. It is likely for them to refer to the Phoenician Phoenix, son of Amyntor and Cleobule in Homer’s Iliad, or to the phoenix (bird). • Dactilyfera: it is a specific epithet that means “date carrier”.

Description: This plant can reach 30 meters high, even its trunk is thin and often has buds, which makes it different from the Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) and why they are usually mistaken. Its leaves are persistent, leathery, pinnate, thorny, arched, very big and they come out like plumes from the crown. They are bluish green, unlike other that belong to the genus. They are 1-5,5 meters long and have a pinnate structure. On each side they have segments (leaflets) that are folded, rigid and finish in tip. Its flowers are dioecious. Males are cream-colored and produce pollen; females are yellow and after fertilization they produce the E fruits (dates) that are born in clusters at the base of the leaf. When they are green, they look like S N an acorn, but when they ripen they become fleshy, brown and very sweet. They have a very long W bone inside with a groove.

Commemorative tree

�i� tre� wa� plante� on� year a�er terroris� attac� o� Marc� 11t�, 2004 i� Madri� i� order t� honor it� victim�.