INTERNATIONAL PALM DAY

[IPS President]

INTERNATIONAL PALM DAY

APRIL 17

 

In 1963 Dr. P. B. Tomlinson, a research scientist at the Fairchild Tropical (Botanical) Garden (clickable) conceived of the International Palm Year. This included funding for palm seed collecting, an “intensification” of the distribution of palm seeds and the measurement of palm growth rates worldwide. (1)

 

Later, a consortium of palm botanists and conservationists created International Palm Day which honors Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (clickable), Professor of Botany and director of the Royal Botanic Garden in Munich. The date chosen was Martius’ birthday, April 17 (1794). 

 

Professor Matius was acclaimed for his landmark three volume reference: Natural History of Palms, published between 1823 and 1853. In fact his renown was of such magnitude that he has been acknowledged as the Father of Palms (2). Upon his death in 1868, his coffin was strewn with fresh palm fronds. 

 

International Palm Day was organized to achieve global recognition for not only palm species in jeopardy but also the fragility of palm habitats worldwide. 

 

 

AI indicates over half of palm species at risk of extinction | Kew

 

1. Principes 7(1), 1963 pp. 4-7. 

 

1. Principes, 23(4), 1979, pp. 158-170