News Plants

This first-of-its-kind palm plant flowers and fruits entirely underground

The behavior is rare among plants, and no other palm is known to do it

A photograph of the palm Pinanga subterranea with its green palms sprouting out from brown leaf-strewn ground.

Fruiting or flowering underground, like the newly described palm Pinanga subterranea (shown) does, is rare, but has been documented in 33 plant families so far.

Agusti Randi

By Darren Incorvaia

Palm trees are often associated with Hollywood Boulevard and tropical resorts, but their relatives in the palm family Arecaceae can come in many different shapes and sizes. And one shuns the limelight to an almost absurd degree — the new-to-science Pinanga subterranea palm grows its flowers and fruit entirely underground.