5 Incredible Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Palm Trees

1. The Areca Palm gives 10 percent of the Worlds population a daily buzz.
   
   We all know that you get coconuts from palm trees, but did you know that the Areca Palm grows a betel nut which is consumed by more than 10 percent of the worlds population. The betel nut gives people the buzz equivalent to 6 cups of coffee. Along side nicotine, alcohol and caffeine, this nut is believed to be one of the most popular mind altering substances in the world. The betel nut gives the mouth a red colored stain and it is know to lead to mouth cancer.
2. There are palm trees taller than your expectations
   
   You think the Palm trees in Florida are tall? In the country Colombia the Quindio wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) is the tallest species, and can grow 160 to 200 feet (50 to 60 meters) high. This is twice the height of the Palm trees in Los Angles, and the equivalent of more than 10 full grown giraffes standing on top of one another. Now that's a tree you probably shouldn't use for growing coconuts ,)
3. Why Hollywood has so many palm trees
   
   In how many Hollywood movies set in Los Angeles have you seen palm trees ? Probably all of them and there is a reason. In 1932 Los Angeles was hosting the olympics and in order to decorate the city more than 400 people were employed to plant more than 40,000 Mexican fan palm along 150 miles of city streets.
4. A palm tree can outlive you
   
   Yes it's true some palm trees can live more than a hundred years, if you don't believe it you can plant one and see who falls first.
5. Biggest seed of any plant
   
   The coco de mer palm tree has the largest seeds of any plant on Earth. The seeds can be as large as 20 inches in diameter and as heavy as 66 pounds. Definitely not something you would want to fall on your head. It is used in traditional medicine, the shell of the seed can also be used as big bowls to carry water.
   I was recently on vacation and that is why I got interested in the palm tree. I decided to do some research and I am quite baffled at how much interesting information there is about palm trees that I didn't know so I decided to make a post and share it with you guys. Hope you enjoyed it and have a great day !

Sources:
https://www.google.com/search?biw=320&bih=460&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=QiyHWbWQOozegAbew5jYAQ&q=funny+shaped+palm+tree&oq=funny+shaped+palm
https://www.google.com/search?q=betel+nut+eating&prmd=ivsn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi29M_o78LVAhVJaRQKHbtHB3sQ_AUIESgB&biw=320&bih=460#imgrc=DZ3-KGVQaNv_PM:
https://www.google.com/search?biw=320&bih=460&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=Ci-HWd7EHOzdgAaIj7TYBw&q=quindio+wax+palm&oq=quindio+wax+palm&gs_l=mobile-gws-img.3..0j0i24k1.134032.141116.0.141369.33.27.1.0.0.0.919.12977.4-6j12j4.22.0....0...1.1.64.mobile-gws-img..19.14.8160.3..35i39k1j0i67k1j0i30k1j0i8i30k1.kArb0M7aGL4#imgrc=SPTSEnvZgw9jMM:
https://www.google.com/search?q=hollywood+palm+tree&prmd=isvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjr96SE8cLVAhUGNxQKHX-BDq4Q_AUIESgB&biw=320&bih=460#imgrc=FTSRrT7vOvSBgM:
https://www.google.com/search?q=old+palm+tree&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwipi7zC8cLVAhVHxRQKHe4bCbQQ_AUIEigC&biw=320&bih=460#imgrc=yMsE-O3Gl0a3sM:
https://www.google.com/search?biw=320&bih=460&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=UDCHWe-2C6iVgAaJzoSgCQ&q=coco+de+mer+palm+seed&oq=coco+de+mer+&gs_l=mobile-gws-img.1.0.35i39k1j0i67k1j0l3.319997.325219.0.327341.32.20.1.0.0.0.776.8178.5-10j3.13.0....0...1.1.64.mobile-gws-img..21.11.6445.3..0i10i67k1.lXxxFBovhNg#imgrc=lINeSS0EEV_3kM:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/amp/10-surprising-facts-about-palm-trees