Palm of the genus Phoenix. The female tree
produces the fruit, dates, in bunches
weighing 9-11 kg/20-25 lb. Dates are an
important source of food in the Middle East,
being rich in sugar; they are dried for
export. The tree also supplies timber, and
materials for baskets, rope, and animal feed.
The most important species is Phoenix
dactylifera; native to North Africa, SW Asia,
and parts of India, it grows up to 25 m/80 ft
high.