Palms and the Tropical Americas - Cocos nucifera, commonly known as beach coconut

In the popular imagination, palms symbolize the epitome of tropical landscape. Coconut trees are nearly synonymous with the Caribbean, and with good reason, as palms are confined almost exclusively with to the tropics, finding their niche in all tropical conditions, and filling nearly every habitat. Palms are one of the world’s largest plant families with more than 200 genera of palms and 1500 species worldwide! Palms of the Americas can be found between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, numbering 67 genera and 550 species.
Besides being attractive and appealing to the senses, palms play a major role in tropical ecosystems. Native palms naturally provide erosion control along mangroves and waterways, as well as habitat for numerous animals, and are a food source for diverse animals such as peccaries, monkeys, toucans, parrots, migratory birds, and many other mammals, birds, fish and insects. For many of these animals, palms are a major component of their diet.