system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do palm trees only have leaves at the top? If so, do they then grow from the middle?

I'm in a place where there are Palm trees right now so I was just curious how they grow such that there are only leaves on top.
gpt
Basically as the tree grows taller the lower branches fall off, leaving only the uppermost branches. This is a selective trait along with others such as the relative sponginess of the wood. The species exist in places that are exposed to the ocean meaning they have to survive hurricanes and other strong storms which makes the trait of losing the lower branches beneficial. Less likely to get pushed over or broken by the wind.