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Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

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A Very Late Bloomer

On January 17, botanists announced the discovery of an unusual new palm tree species on the African island of Madagascar. It is the island's largest species of palm. It is 66 feet tall and has 16-foot leaves! The tree flowers once every 100 years. Then it collapses and dies.

When the palm blossoms, "it looks like a Christmas tree," says botanist Mijoro Rakotoarinivo. Hundreds of tiny flowers cover its branches. This growth takes so much energy that the palm dies. Only a few other tree species live and die this way.

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