Coconuts, dates, oil and sago, from which a nutritious flour is made, are all produced by various taxa. Some species of grubs which are always found in association with the hearts of the inner stem are considered a delicacy when found by many native South American groups. The betel nut, which is chewed by many in Africa and South East Asia as a stimulant also comes from a palm species. The family is unique as a monocot in that it has an arborescent habit, or is able to reach great heights without the production of true secondary growth or ' wood', as well as having large distinctively 'palmate' leaves. Hypanthium sometimes present.
Inflorescences are of many flowers and of various types.
Fruit a berry or drupe. Seeds with a small plumule and a radicle. Placentation is variously axile, basal or parietal. Habit is as shrubs, lianas or trees with and unbranched trunk or stem. Individuals may be up to 60 meters in height, or remain shorter.