PALM TREES

reprinted from
LA TIMES
CALIFORNIA CLASSROOM A LEARNING LINK TO THE MILDRED E. MATHIAS BOTANICAL GARDEN AT UCLA

They're everywhere! Are they birds? Are they planes? Are they stamps? Well, yes and no. They're not birds or planes, but they are on postage stamps issued in April that say "Greetings From California." What are they?

They're palm trees! Andthere are about 2,800 varieties of them. Some have spines on their trunks, and others are ringed or covered with fibers. They can grow up to 150 feet tall, and their leaves look like feathers, fans, fishtails or even wheel spokes.

Palm trees come from all over the world. The California fan palm is the only palm native to California. Other types include the king and queen palms, spiny fiber palm, jelly palm, solitary fishtail palm, Chilean wine palm, lady palm and windmill palm. Can you imagine what they might look like or how they are used from their names?

Coconut palms grow in the tropics, like Hawaii, where it is wet and warm. Coconuts have many uses. Their thick exterior coating is ground up and pressed into charcoal. Their shells can be made into spoons, knives, bowls, cups and art objects. Inside is a liquid that can be drunk and a white fruit that can be eaten.

Date palms grow in hot and dry regions, like the Coachella Valley in the desert near Palm Springs, where their roots can be close to water. Dates can be eaten or made into sugar.

The trunks of most palms can be used for building materials. Their leaves can be woven into baskets and mats and used to construct roofs and sides of dwellings. Palm oil, which is made from hard nuts, can be used for soap, cosmetics and cooking oil.

You can see some of the palm trees mentioned above and approximately 5,000 other species of plants at the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden. To learn more about the garden call (310) 825-1260.

This Learning Link was provided by Carol Felixson from the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA, in the heart of Westwood. If you want other stories on this topic, search the Archives at latimes.com/archives. For information about reprinting this article, go to www.lats.com/rights.