The palm tree is amongst the foremost both in beauty and in utility. It grows with uniform trunk straight like the mast of a ship. The trunk is in some kinds smooth, in others clearly annu- lated, in others rough with the roots of former fronds. At the top the leaves (or fronds) spring out in a spreading circle or crown, while beneath them the flowers and clusters of fruit are formed. The tree is endogenous, without bark and Avithout branch. The leaves vary in length from three to thirty feet. And along the stalk on either side long leaflets grow close, presenting in many kinds (pinnated) the shape of an enlarged feather, in others, including most of the fan-shaped palms, a rounder, broader form of palmate or webbed configuration, while in the bi-pinnate caryota and the mauritia they have a triangular (or fish- tailed or wedge-shaped) appearance. The fruit is often valuable, and bj' incision the juice is obtained that makes palm A\ine. Palm trees are tropical and semi-tropical. Some grow near wells, as the palms of Elim (Ex 1.j-'), but this may be attributed to culture ; others flourish in sandy deserts ; some are found in mountainous regions, and many rear themselves erect on wind-swept ridges. Besides yielding food, drink, and oil, they afford house- building mateiial, and manj^ are highly service- able for the various uses to which fibres are applicable.
Palms have been divided into five tribes, over a hundred genera, over a thousand species ; but there is a limited number of main kinds. The palm of Palestine is the date-palm. This tree {phcenix (kafijlifeiri, date being a contraction of dnctylta, 'finger") rises gracefully to a height of from fifty to ninety feet. It grows in various climates and latitudes, but its fruit fails both in Europe and in India. The female tree (for the phu5nix, unlike most others, is not hermaphrodite) bears a cluster which may contain 200 dates, and it may continue to bear for two hundred years. These fruits, which are half sugar, are a chief article of food in Arabia and North Africa. From an incision near the top the fermenting sap flows so as to yield in one month twenty gallons of wine or toddy. The pin- nated leaves, which are of a deep green colour and from 9 to 12 feet in length, are used to make mats and baskets, and the fibres of their stalks make cordage. The leaves also make thatch, and the trunk is useful timber. This tree abounded in the valley of the Jordan, but Jericho was speci- ally the city of palm trees (Dt 34^). A group of paims, Avith their magnificent crowns, might aftbrd ample shade. Accordingly, Ave find that early in the history of Israel Deborah dwelt under her palm tree (Jg 4'), Avhile in the time of our Lord many of the Essenes Avere said to live in palm groves. Fructification is artificial or accidental ; and forests may be cultivated that in years of famine Avill support the population of a country.
The palm, being upright, green, fruitful, and imposing, Avas an emblem of the righteous in th ir prosperity (Ps 92^-). In appreciation of the beauty of its form it Avas carved on the Avails and doors of the Temple (I K 6-^- ^^ cf. Ezk 40i« 4:V«). Its leaves AA'ere borne as symbols of rejoicing at the Feast of
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Tabernacles (Lev 23'"') and also at the Maccabfean Feast of Dedication, of Avhicli the special feature was the illumination. This tall, firm, unbending tree, with Its magniticent crown of fronds, with fruit and leaves that served for sustenance and ornament, was readily reckoned emblematic of moral qualities — rectitude, constancj-, gracefulness, usefulness — such as are the constituents of success. The palm came to be regarded specially as the symbol of victory and triumph. It is in that sense that the name has acquired its metaphorical mean- ing. Tlie winner (we say) carries oti" the palm. A period of exceptional prosperity is remembered as 'palmy days.' 'Another race hath been, and other palms are won ' (Wordsworth).
The carrj-ing of palm leaves {to. ^ata rCiv (poLviKwv) by the people in honour of the Messiah (Jn 12'*) was in accordance with the custom observed at feasts and on great public occasions. Jesus was saluted as a king proceeding to His coronation. The palms symbolized His triumph and the people's joy. He allowed the homage of the multitude as the spontaneous expression of pure-minded loyalty. On the other hand, the Pharisees and officials regarded it as a challenge of their authority. The incident has been commemorated since the 5th cent, by t'.'.e Greek and Latin Churches in the Palm Sunday (clominica pabwyrum, or feast of palm-leaves), immediately preceding Easter, at which pahns are consecrated and a procession takes place.
The supreme expression of the jialm as the symbol of triumphant homage is in the Apocalyptic vision, where the innumerable multitude who have come through the great tribulation, and who serve God daj- and night, stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clotlied in white robes and nith palms in their hands (Rev 7^' ").
Literature.— Artt. in Encpc. Brit.^, Chambers's Eneyc, the EBi, j.nd Hastings' DB ; H'tstorUe Palmarum by Martins : Griffiths' Palriu of British East India is a volume cf illus- trations. K. Scott.