Woody planes, usually with an erect stem bearing a terminal crown of large pinnate or fan-shaped leaves, rarely climbing or decumbent. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual, small, numerous, arranged in spikes or panicles called spadices, which are enclosed when young within a large and broad deciduous bract called a spathe. Perianth inferior, coriaceous, persistent, of 6 seg-ments in 2 series; the outer imbricate, often united into a 3-toothed or -lobed cup; the inner usually valvate. Stamens generally 6 or 3, rarely more, inserted at the base of the perianth; filaments free or connate, subulate or filiform; anthers versatile. Ovary superior, 1- or 3-celled, or of 3 distinct carpels; style very short or want-ing; stigmas 3, sessile; ovules solitary (rarely 2) in each cell. Fruit a drupe or berry; exocarp thick, spongy, fleshy, or fibrous; endocarp membranous or crustaceous or bony. Seed with copious horny cartilaginous or oily albumen; embryo small, in a cavity near the surface of the albumen.

A majestic order, comprising nearly 130 genera and about 1100 specie?., almost wholly confined to tropical or warm extratropical regions, a few only found in northern or southern temperate latitudes. Paw families are more generally useful, or applied to a greater variety of purposes. The timber, the foliage, the fruit, the starchy pith, and the fermentable sap are all employed. The cocoanut, date, sago-palm, cabbage-palm, betel-palm, African oil-palm, &c, are some of the best known species. The single genus found in New Zealand also occurs in Norfolk Island.