Reclining Date Palm (In the Mangroves of Mlalazi Estuary)

Reclining Date Palm

Phoenix reclinata

Summary ⁶

The Wild date palm or Senegal date palm (Phoenix reclinata, reclinata - Latin, reclining) is a species of flowering plant in the palm family native to tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. It is also reportedly naturalized in Florida, Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Leeward Islands. The plants are found from sea level to 3000 m, in rain forest clearings, monsoonal forests and rocky mountainsides.

Description ⁷

Palm tree, often multi-stemmed. Stems erect or reclining. Leaves feather-shaped, 3 to 4 m, arching, crowded on top of the stems. The lowermost leaflets reduced to spines. Flowers in large sprays, male and female flowers on separate trees. Fruits oval, up to 1.5 cm, orange when ripe, edible and sweet tasting.