Phoenix (plant) thin layer of fruit pulp. The central soft part of the stem of "P. rupicola, P. acaulis," and "P. humilis" is a rich source of starch. Palms are felled to extract this central ‘pith’ which is dried, powdered, stored and used for preparation of bread by Indian natives. The "P. canariensis" sap is cooked to a sweet, thick syrup. "P. sylvestris" Roxb. is widely used in India as a source of sugar. The sugary sap from some African palms yields country liquor on fermentation (palm wine). While "P. dactylifera" is grown for its edible dates, the Canary Island date palm
Fruit tree pollination for apple trees, although members of the genera "Andrena", "Bombus", "Halictus", and "Osmia" pollinate apple trees in the wild. Solitary bees such as ground-nesting mining bees ("Andrena") may play a far bigger role in pollination than at one time suspected. Bumble bees are sometimes present in orchards, but not usually in enough quantity to be significant pollinators; in the home garden with only a few trees, their role may be much greater. Increasingly Orchard bees (spring mason bees) are being used in fruit tree pollination. According to British writer Christopher O'Toole in his book "The Red Mason Bee", "Osmia rufa"