Natural History of Gaius Plinius Secundus, Vol. 2

...with miraculous speed, even when a man is climbing them. The entire cluster of leaves is at the top; the fruit is not among the leaves as in other trees, but is clustered on its own stalks between the branches, of a double nature, both that of a tree and of a fruit. The leaves, with their knife-edged points and sides split into one another, first demonstrated beautiful buds; now they are split for ropes and the binding of useful items and for light head-coverings. The most diligent observers of nature report that there is both sex in trees—indeed, in all things that the earth produces, and even in herbs. It is enough to have said this in general in this place. Yet in no trees is it more manifest: the male blooms on the branch, while the female germinates without a flower, only in the manner of a spine. However, in both, the flesh of the fruit is formed first, and afterwards the wood inside, which is its seed. The proof is that small [seeds] are found without this in the same branch. Moreover, it is oblong, not round like olives. Furthermore, it is cut along the back with a cushion-shaped fissure, and in most cases, it is umbilicated in the middle of the belly, from where the root first spreads. It is planted lying flat, and two seeds are set near each other, and as many again on top, since the plant is weak for single ones. Four grow together. This wood is separated from the flesh by many white membranes, while others adhere to the body; it is loosely distant, adhering to the top only by a thread. The flesh ripens in a year. In some places, however, such as Cyprus, although it does not reach maturity, it is sweet with a pleasant flavor; the leaf there is broader, and the fruit rounder than the others. And it is not that the body is devoured, but rather spat out, with the juice merely squeezed out. Even in Arabia, the palms are said to be languidly sweet; although Juba, among the Scenite Arabs, prefers over all other flavors that which they call dabulan. For the rest, they say that females do not bear fruit without males...