Order Arecales / Palm Tree Flowers


Order Arecales

Arecales, the palm order, is one of the most recognizable and significant orders of flowering plants in the tropics and subtropics. Palm trees are economically significant because they provide a wide range of products used for many things.

They are identified by their unusual morphology; in particular, the fan (palmate) or feather (pinnate) leaves are nearly unique in growth.

The Arecales order contains Arecaceae, the most prominent family of monocots, and the Dasypogonaceae family. These two families are comprised of about 989,346 occurrences, 3,865 species in 189 genera[1].

Arecales Pronunciation

Arecales Distribution

Arecales Distribution

It is also known as the palm tree family. Its many members are limited to tropical and subtropical regions.

  • Most are found in rainforests or other humid locations, where they form an essential vegetation component. However, the Arecaceae are found primarily in warm, tropical areas and are typically ecologically significant[2] where they occur.
  • Many species of the palm family are endemic to islands. However, the distribution patterns for palms vary, and tribes and subtribes frequently exhibit limited endemism. Consequently, each central geographic region has its own specific endemic group of palms.
  • Africa has a low diversity with 60 species. Still, Madagascar, adjacent to it, has over 190 with all but five indigenous.

Arecales Species

Arecales Species

The Amazon rainforest is home to many types of plants.

  • A few include the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), sago palm (Metroxylon sagu), and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). In addition, some products are entering international trade, such as carnauba wax (Copernicia prunifera) and raffia (Raphia spp. ).
  • In temperate regions, some species such as the chusan palm (Trachycarpus fortune) are cultivated outdoors.
  • Other species are used as house plants. In particular, there is an essential trade in species such as golden cane palm (Dypsis lutescens), parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans), and kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) as pot plants.

Arecales Characteristics

Arecales Characteristics

Members of the order Arecales stand out for a variety of reasons, including the following:

Trimerous and tiny flowers are formed on unbranched or heavily branched inflorescences.

Arecales Economic Uses

Arecales Economic Uses

The palm family is essential. It contains several major crop plants such as coconut, African oil palm, sago palm, and date palms.

  • Important products entering international trade such as carnauba wax, raffia fiber, rattan, and palm hearts are harvested from wild or semi-cultivated populations of palms.
  • Local people use other species for food, building construction, clothing, household utensils, medicine, and ornaments. Unfortunately, these species are only rarely kept track of by the government.
  • Most of these products come from wild or semi-cultivated palm populations.

Palms are an important part of tropical landscaping. They are used extensively in the United States, South Africa, Australia, India, and other countries. Palms are known for their simple beauty and gracefulness.

Suggested Reading: Yellow Marigold Flowers

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BioExplorer.net. (2024, March 29). Order Arecales / Palm Tree Flowers. Bio Explorer. https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-arecales/.
BioExplorer.net. "Order Arecales / Palm Tree Flowers" Bio Explorer, 29 March 2024, https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-arecales/.
BioExplorer.net. "Order Arecales / Palm Tree Flowers" Bio Explorer, March 29 2024. https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-arecales/.
Key References
  • [1]“Arecales”. Accessed November 25, 2021. Link.
  • [2]“Arecales (Palms) – Dransfield – – Major Reference Works – Wiley Online Library”. Accessed November 25, 2021. Link.

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