This is the first time I had seen a slice of fossilised palm tree and I was really surprised by its unusual cell structure compared to other fossilised wood.
This one is from Indonesia.
Palms (Arecaceae) appear in the fossil record around 70-80 million years ago – the late Cretaceous period – in an amazing diversity of habitats ranging from rain forest areas to deserts but traditionally tropical.
There are around 200 known genera with over 2,500 species.
Their exotic appearance has meant that they are widely used in landscaping, and many foods and products come from the huge variety of species- palm oil, coconuts, coir, rattan, panama hats and much more. Palm trees were apparently used by Mesopotamians up to five thousand years ago.
Palm trees grow upright and whilst they bend in the wind they seldom break. Evergreen and able to withstand huge wind forces. Palm oils are used in cooking oils, shampoos and cosmetics.
Charlotte
