We saw this plant in Fort Lauderdale Riverfront Park in south Florida, zone
10.

It looks like a palm, although the entire trunk of the plant was covered.
Is the bottom part just this way because they did not clean the dead leaves
or is this the natural look?

Here are three pictures from three angles.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...b/P1000847.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...b/P1000846.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...b/P1000848.jpg

Is there a thick trunk under there?