Chamaerops humilis

The European fan palm is a shrubby palm that can reach the size of a small tree, up to 4 m tall, exceptionally reaching heights of 8 m, with a diameter of up to 35 cm. In its natural state, the trunk is covered by old dried (marcescent) leaves or their remains. The leaves resemble fans. They are simple, persistent, palmate and very large. The leaf blade is 11-43 cm long and 7-60 cm wide. Approximately three quarters of the leaf radius is divided into very narrow, more or less triangular strips that are accompanied by some brown fibres. They have a spiny leaf stalk that is 8.5-55 cm long and 0.2-1.5 cm wide. The flowers are borne on flowering branches between the leaves. They are protected by a modified leaf or cylindrical spathe that is broader in the central area and which opens when it ripens. The flowers are arranged spirally around the branches and are cream or yellowish in colour. The fruit are brown-reddish, fleshy (dates), 1.2-4 cm long and 0.7-1.6 cm wide.