Arecaceae is a monocotyledonous plant family comprising the palms, characterized by arborescent or acaulescent habit, a single apical meristem, and typically unbranched, columnar stems with a crown of large, pinnate or palmate leaves bearing a sheathing leaf base. Members exhibit fibrous root systems, lack true secondary growth, and produce inflorescences that are often highly branched, subtended by bracts, and bear small, usually unisexual flowers. The family shows diverse fruit types, predominantly drupes, with seeds often rich in oils or carbohydrates. Arecaceae plays significant roles in tropical and subtropical ecosystems and is important in studies of monocot morphology, phylogeny, and biogeography.
The genes that could help the world's crops survive drought, heat, and disease probably already exist. But much of this genetic diversity remains hidden within ancient plant varieties and forgotten seed collections, among ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Apr 28, 2026
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10
Palmyra Atoll, a remote, uninhabited speck of land, coral and sea halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa, is one of the healthiest, intact atolls on the planet—so ecologically sensitive that visiting researchers freeze ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 28, 2026
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79
New research shows that lower-intensity management of coconut palm plantations can sustain, or even increase, crop yields while improving soil health. The new approach, published in Plants, People, Planet, reduces harmful ...
Agriculture
Apr 24, 2026
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7
As sea levels rise and soils grow saltier, even the iconic Sabal palmetto—the official state tree of Florida also known as the cabbage palm—may be in danger. But a new study in HortScience suggests a simple, widely available ...
Biotechnology
Dec 19, 2025
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