Phoenix theophrasti ancient Greek ‘father of botany,’ had described several types of palms, including one from Crete. Apart from the usually inedible dates and upright fruit clusters, the Cretan species can appear quite similar to the cultivated date ("Phoenix dactylifera"). "Phoenix theophrasti" grows up to 15 m tall, usually with several slender stems. The leaves are pinnate, 2–3 m long, with numerous rigid greyish-green linear leaflets 15–50 cm long on each side of the central rachis. Dead leaves are marcescent, remaining attached to the stem for years after withering. The fruit is an oval yellowish-brown drupe 1.5 cm long and 1 cm
The Senator (tree) Senator that was planted near the playground. The name for the clone is "The Phoenix". A clone of the Senator was located, and currently is growing at the entrance to Big Tree Park. As of 1993, the Senator was estimated to be 3,500 years old, making it the 5th oldest tree in the world. The tree's volume had previously been estimated at , but a 2006 survey by Will Blozan of the Native Tree Society has measured the volume at well over , making The Senator not only the largest Bald Cypress in the United States, but also the largest