A palm tree (family Arecaceae), up to 25 m tall and sometimes with several stems arising from a single root system, with leaves up to 6 m long. The fruits (dates) are drupes, produced in large bunches on female trees, and bright yellow or red prior to being dried. Native to the Middle East, dates are an important food and commercial crop, with many cultivars, and are also grown in parts of the USA and Mexico.