The coco de mer (Lodoicea maldivica) has the largest seeds of any plant, measuring between 40 and 50 centimeters (16 and 20 inches) in diameter and weighing between 15 and 30 kilograms (33 and 66 pounds) each (coconuts are the second largest).

Palms of the raffia genus have leaves that are as long as 25 meters (82 feet) and wide as any other plant. The Corypha species have the largest inflorescence of any plant, with millions of tiny flowers and a height of up to 7.5 meters (25 feet). The stems of calamus can grow to 200 meters (656 feet) in length.

The majority of palms originate in tropical and subtropical regions. Palms can be found in a wide range of habitats, but they thrive in humid and hot climates. They are most diverse in lowland, wet forests. Concentration areas include the Caribbean, parts of the South Pacific, and southern Asia. It’s possible that Colombia has the most palm species of any country.

There are a few palms that are likewise local to abandon regions like the Bedouin landmass and portions of northwestern Mexico. There are only about 130 palm species that can naturally grow completely outside of the tropics. Most of them are found in humid lowland subtropical climates, mostly in the highlands of southern Asia and along the Mediterranean Sea’s rim. Chamaerops humilis, the northernmost native palm, can be found along the coast of Liguria, Italy, at 44°N latitude.

Palms can be grown north of subtropical climates, and some higher latitude locations, like Ireland, Scotland, England, and the Pacific Northwest, have a few palms in protected areas and microclimates. There are at least 12 native palm species in the United States, most of which are found in Florida and the Deep South.