Arecaceae
17-Date Palm
![[FMP-field: image]](../picts/Arecaceae/17-Date%20palm%20trees.jpg)
| Date palms, Phoenix dactylifera, are native to oases the Sahara Desert and have been cultivated for at least 4,500 years, first by the ancient Egyptians. Now, dates are widely cultivated in many hot, dry regions of the world. Date trees are dioecious, but as early as 2,300 B.C., agriculturists had learned to hang a male inflorescence in a female tree to enhance pollination, which is by wind. The date fruits are produced in great quantities. The fruits are very nutritious, containing over 60% carbohydrates and 5% protein. |