Dates are probably native to Arabia and North Africa and long a major food source in <l:5,5>desert<e> and tropical regions. The sweet, nutritious fruits grow in heavy clusters; a tree may produce up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) annually. Sugar and a fermented drink are made from the sap of the tree, and the seeds are sometimes used as a coffee substitute. The wood of the trunk is used in construction, and mats and baskets are woven from the leaves.
