Palmyra palm, << pal MY ruh, >> is a kind of palm that grows throughout India and nearby islands and in other hot countries. It is one of the most useful plants known. Lumber from the trunk of the palmyra palm is used for building houses. The leaves are made into thatch, baskets, mats, hats, fans, and umbrellas. The fiber of the plant is used for twine and rope. The fruit, seeds, and young stalks are eaten. In the northern part of Sri Lanka, the palmyra is almost the sole source of livelihood for thousands of the people.
The ancient Hindu scholars used strips from the leaves of the palmyra and talipot palms for writing material. Some of the oldest existing Hindu manuscripts are preserved in books made of these strips. The books are 1 to 2 feet (30 to 61 centimeters) long and never more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide.
The plant grows from 20 to 70 feet (6 to 21 meters) high. Its leaves are 4 feet (1.2 meters) long. The fruit is large and angular shaped.
