Family | Arecaceae/ Palmae |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mBWypOKRJSg/S-91U5UnxHI/AAAAAAAAAfg/37oV9CjENYg/s200/plam.jpg)
In palms, the leaves will develop from a single bud atop each stem, unfolding like an accordion or a fan. Leaf bases encircle the stem, at least early in their development. The stems of mature palms are tough and woody.
The palm leaf consists of a petiole (leaf stem) and blade (the main body of the leaf). Based on their leaf structures, palms are classified into two basic categories; i.e, fan shaped (palmate) or feather shaped (pinnate) compound leaves.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mBWypOKRJSg/S-91W8l4ZjI/AAAAAAAAAfo/EtHbXsxsGOU/s320/palm+-+3.jpg)
Most palms grow as single-stem trees, but some develop multiple stems from a single root system. The thickness of the stem ranges from a pencil to more than a meter.