Phoenix dactylifera ''Palmeral de Elche''

This date palm comes from Europe's largest palm forest: The Palmeral of Elche in Spain. In this Palmeral thousands of date palms grow, irrigated by a man made irrigation network. The palms have always been very important for the inhabitants of the city as a source of food. Also the leaves have been used for traditional celebrations like palm Sunday. For this the palms leaves are binded together and covered with black plastic. This way the palms produce white to yellow coloured leaves. From the white leaves creative art is made 'Palma Blanca'. Date palms are grown in this palmeral at least since 500 before Christ. The current date palms of Elche are probably a mix between date palm varieties and cultivars that have been brought to Elche from Northern Africa over the years. Also there is the possibility of introgression of genes from the Spanish native date palm (Phoenix iberica).