PALM TREE TRUNKS

by Phil Bergman

Description of Article

Photographs showing the unique and different appearances of the trunks of many different species of palm trees.

Introduction

This article is a pictorial presentation on the vastly different appearances of the trunks of some of the many known species of palm trees. Species names are given with each photo of the trunk. The reader will quickly realize what a gamut of appearances there are. Some are super aesthetic and pretty. Others are frankly quite bizarre. But, they are all different, one way or another.

PALM TRUNKS

MANY DIFFERENT APPEARANCES
A PICTORIAL PRESENTATION

THICK OR THIN
SMOOTH OR SPINEY
SWOLLEN OR TUBULAR
BIZARRE SHAPED OR UNIFORM
CROWN SHAFT OR NOT
SHAGGY OR CLEAN
SINGLE OR MULTIPLE
COLORFUL OR DULL
WHITE RINGS OR CHECKERED
AND, YES, PRETTY OR SORT OF UGLY

ALMOST ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE!

Palm trees are unique in that there are over 3500 species and they all look rather different. These differences are not only in the overall tree appearances, but also in the trunks of stems of the palms. There is such a vast array of trunk appearances that it’s mind boggling. One would think that all the plants below couldn’t possibly all belong to the same family of plants. Differences involve trunk size, numbers of trunks (suckering or not), the presence or absence of a crown shaft at the top of trunk below the leaves, trunk color, trunk texture, the presence of the well recognized rings on the trunk, the presence of spines and so many other things.

This photographic tour is rather self-explanatory. Pictures say it all. My goal is not to discuss each species but rather show the vastly different trunk appearances that you’ll see. An attempt has been made to show a lot of different types from around the world. Shown here are almost two hundred species, all demonstrating different sizes/shapes/characteristics and appearances. They are presented in random order with each species identified below the picture.

Pinanga malaiana HJD — *Pinanga malaiana* HJD

Geonoma undata by DP — *Geonoma undata* by DP

Washintonia robusta trunks not cleaned
Have petticoats — *Washintonia robusta* trunks not cleaned
Have petticoats

Foxy Lady - Wodyetia x Veitchia — ***Foxy Lady – Wodyetia x Veitchia***

Washingtonia robusta left, filifera right — *Washingtonia robusta* left, *filifera* right

Watermelon Chambeyronia macrocarpa — Watermelon *Chambeyronia macrocarpa*

Pinanga caesia HJD — *Pinanga caesia* HJD

Metroxylon species leaf base — *Metroxylon* species leaf base

Washintonia robusta, trunks cleaned — *Washintonia robusta,* trunks cleaned

Base of Roystonea regia — Base of *Roystonea regia*

CONCLUSION

You can well appreciate from all the photographs above the diverse and varied appearance of palm tree trunks. They truly come in all shapes and sizes, either singly or as multiple stems, with tremendously different appearances and characteristics. There is indeed something for everyone to like.