Most of us probably think of the palm tree as purely decorative. We have seen pictures of these stately trees lining the streets in certain cities, or growing near tropical beaches.

Actually, there are about four thousand different species of palm trees and they are among the most useful trees known to man. Their fruit, their stems, and their tender leaves provide food. Their leaves, branches, and trunks furnish strong wood, cane, thatch, and twine. Their bark and leaves are used in making rugs, paper, cloth, baskets, hats, and brushes. The nuts of the ivory palm are carved into buttons. The sap of some palms is made into sugar, or wine, or honey.