Phoenix dactylifera rises

Interesting news for palm and fruit lovers. Israeli researchers have germinated and are growing seven plants from a long extinct judean palm that was prized in antiquity and noted for its luscious and large sweet fruit.

Date palm cultivation in Israel goes back at least 19,000 years before present. Date production in Judea was written about by Pliny the Elder, Herodotus and Josephus among others.

The seeds for the newly growing Phoenix dactylifera were approx. two thousand years old and found at ancient sites including Masada, Qumran and Wadi Makukh.

Scientific paper here. Should be interesting to see what future fruit they bear.