Vegetative branching is common in the palms (Arecaceae). However, current terms to describe vegetative branching diversity are not consistent and do not cover the full range of branching types. In this study vegetative branching types in the palms were reviewed and defined, and the phylogenetic distribution of palm branching types was described. Branching types were described from a literature review and field observations; 1903 species representing all 181 genera were included. Five branching types were found: lateral axillary branching, shoot apical division, false vivipary, abaxial branching, and leaf-opposed branching. Most species (55%) exhibited no vegetative branching. Lateral axillary was the most common branching type. Lateral axillary branching and shoot apical division were predicted to be the earliest-evolved branching types. The present study suggests that branching types have different evolutionary histories, and it is likely that the solitary habit is more common now than when palms initially diverged from commelinid relatives.

中文翻译：

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棕榈树植物分枝的回顾（槟榔科）

营养分枝在棕榈树（Arecaceae）中很常见。然而，目前描述营养分枝多样性的术语并不一致，并没有涵盖所有分枝类型。本研究回顾和定义了棕榈树的营养分枝类型，描述了棕榈分枝类型的系统发育分布。从文献综述和实地观察中描述了分支类型；包括代表所有 181 个属的 1903 个物种。发现了五种分枝类型：侧腋生分枝、茎尖分枝、假胎生、背面分枝和叶对生分枝。大多数物种 (55%) 没有表现出营养分枝。侧腋是最常见的分支类型。侧腋分枝和茎尖分裂被预测为最早进化的分枝类型。