Palms are among the best known and extensively cultivated plant families. They have been important to humans throughout much of our history. Many common products and foods are derived from palms, and palms are also widely used in landscaping for their exotic appearance, making them one of the most economically important plants. In many historical cultures, palms were symbols for such ideas as victory, peace, and fertility.

The fan palms are distinguished from the date palms by the arrangement of the leaf blades. In fan palms the blade is nearly circular in outline, and the divisions extend only half or two thirds of the way to the base, being arranged palmately.