Cover illustration: The inset cover image shows date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) growing in cultivation in Bordighera, Italy. Palms (Arecaceae) form one of the most distinctive of all plant families and are emblematic of the tropical regions of the world, in which most of their natural biodiversity is concentrated. Although a handful of species such as date palm, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and coconut (Cocos nucifera) occupy a particularly high profile, many members of the Arecaceae have uses that extend far beyond their natural habitat. (Photograph: Alain Rival.)