Phoenix dactylifera

Common name: Date Palm

Meaning of name:

Phoenix is a Greek word meaning date palm. Dactylifera is from the Latin words dactylus, meaning finger-like, and the suffix –fer, meaning bearing.

Distribution:

This plant can grow wherever there is sufficient moisture.

Description:

Date Palms can reach 30 metres in height and produce several trunks from one root system.

Notes:

Because this species has been in cultivation for thousands of years, its origins are uncertain.

References:

Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.

Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. Third edition 2019.

Weeds of Australia https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/phoenix_dactylifera.htm

Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2900073

Florabase https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1042