Arecaceae -- the palm family (200, 3000; Tropical and warm temperate, a few cool temperate or montane species)
Habit shrubs, woody vines and trees; usually unbranched
Leaves alternate, often forming dense terminal rosettes; simple to compound, plicate (folded like a fan) in bud; sheathing; estipulate; usually long-petiolate and very large
Inflorescences spikes, racemes, heads, cymes or large panicles; basally subtended one or more spathes
Special floral characters hypanthium sometimes present
Calyx 3 (2-4) sepals distinct or connate
Corolla 3 (2-4) petals distinct or connate; often sepaloid in appearance
Androecium 6 (3 or 7-many) stamens distinct or filaments connate; ± adnate to corolla or hypanthium
Gynoecium 3 (1-10) carpels, distinct or connate; superior with 1-3 locules and 1 basal or apical ovule/locule OR 1 locule and 1 basal or marginal ovule/carpel; styles 3, sometimes basally connate or stigmas sessile
Fruit= usually a one-seeded drupe or berry, sometimes coalescent into fleshy syncarp
(Floral formula: Ca 3 Co 3 A 6 G 3 or 3 )