When are two different words not two different words?

Apparently the name of the tree (palma in Latin) derives from the shape of the leaves (like the palm of the hand, palma in Latin). The word for the tree, per AHD, entered Old English from the Old French and the word for the part of the hand entered Middle English from Old French. So go figure.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/79/P0027900.html

http://www.bartleby.com/61/80/P0028000.html