Palm trees make us think of sunny beaches and warm weather! They are really special because they do not have branches like other trees. Instead, they have a bunch of long, green leaves called fronds at the very top of their tall trunks. There are about 2,600 different kinds of palm trees in the world, and some can grow as tall as a 20-story building! Here is a wild fact: palm trees have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, over 80 million years ago.
Some palm trees grow yummy treats like dates and coconuts, and people have been growing palm trees for food for at least 5,000 years. Because their trunks are so bendy and flexible, palm trees can lean way over during a big storm without breaking, which is pretty amazing! One type of palm tree holds the record for the biggest seed in the whole world, weighing more than 60 pounds. That is heavier than most kids! Even though they look like trees, palm trees are actually more closely related to grass than to other trees.