Borassus flabellifer

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Features:	✓	edible, fruit

Scientific Names

Borassus >

flabellifer >

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Borassus flabellifer, also known as the Asian palmyra palm, Toddy palm, sugar palm, or Cambodian palm, is robust and can live 100 years or more and reach a height of 30 m, with a canopy of leaves several dozen fronds spreading 3 meters across. The large trunk resembles that of the coconut tree and is ringed with leaf scars. Young palmyra palms grow slowly in the beginning but then grow faster. Its growth pattern, large size, and clean habits make it an attractive landscape species.

The fruit measures 4 to 7 inches in diameter, has a black husk, and is borne in clusters. The top portion of the fruit must be cut off to reveal the three sweet jelly seed sockets, translucent pale-white, similar to that of the lychee but with a milder flavor and no pit. The jelly part of the fruit is covered with a thin, yellowish-brown skin. The ripened fibrous outer layer of the palm fruits can also be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted.

Read about Borassus flabellifer in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Borassus flabellifer, Linn. (B. flabelliformis, Mutt. B. aethiopium, Mart.). Meelalla, a native name for young plants; called also Palmyra Palm by the Hindoos. Fig. 593. St. 60-70 ft. high: Lvs. 8-10 ft. long, broader than long; lf-segms. bifid at the apex, lanceolate or sword- shaped in outline.—Widely cult. One of the most useful palms of India. The frs. are very large. Many parts of the plant are utilized by the natives as food and in the arts. Wood black, very hard. This plant requires rich soil and strong heat for its best development, and is rather slow-growing under cult., especially while young. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Gallery

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  Edible jelly seeds of palmyra palm

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  Crown

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  Bird nest on Asian palmyra palm

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  A view of the characteristic fruit on the tree

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  Bird nest and fruit on Asian palmyra palm

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  Trunk

References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

• w:Borassus flabellifer. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Borassus flabellifer QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)