When we think of the Caribbean, we think of tall palm trees, slightly curved, at the edge of a white sand beach. When we look a little closer, we realize that the palm family, botanical family Arecaceae or Palmaceae, consists of 2600 different species.
Historically, palms have symbolized victory and triumph. The Romans celebrated victory in games and in war with an award of palms. Today, Palm Sunday, is the Christian celebration of the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on a path of palm boughs, the week before his death and resurrection. On Palm Sunday, the palms are blessed and distributed to the the faithful, sometimes woven into crosses, who then keep them in their homes until the next year, when the fronds are burned to form the ashes to celebrate Ash Wednesday.
For more palms and other tropical plants, explore our Tropical Plants gallery.
For the whole series of “The Caribbean from A to Z,” click here!