No images found for this plant ID: 5810.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "5810" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
palmyra palm
Scientific Name: Borassus aethiopum
Family: Arecaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabellifer)
The Palmyra palm, scientifically known as Borassus flabellifer, is a versatile and economically important tree found throughout tropical regions.
Common Names
- Palmyra Palm
- Asian Palmyra Palm
- Toddy Palm
- Sugar Palm
- Cambodian Palm
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Genus: Borassus
- Species: flabellifer
- Family: Palmae (Arecaceae)
Distribution and Habitat
The Palmyra palm is native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and New Guinea. Specifically, Borassus flabellifer is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, including Nepal and India. It is also found on the island of Soqotra.
Considerations for Pets
- The Palmyra palm produces fruits that resemble coconuts, potentially attracting the attention of pets.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- The Palmyra palm is a massive tree, reaching heights of up to 30 meters.
- The trunk can have a substantial circumference.
- Each palm can bear 6-12 bunches of approximately 50 fruits per year.
- The fruit measures 4 to 7 inches in diameter and has a black husk, growing in clusters.
Ecological Role and Interactions
- Palmyra palm trees play a role in the distribution of sandflies.
Traditional Uses and Economic Importance
- The Palmyra palm is considered a multipurpose tree, with various parts utilized for food, beverages, and construction.
- Sap from the inflorescences is tapped to produce sugar and alcohol.
- Palmyra Jaggery (SugaVida™) is a sweetener derived from the dried nectar of the palmyra palm.
- The wood is hard and resistant, used in construction, including bridges.
- Fibers are used for making durable brooms.
- In Tamil Nadu, India, the Palmyra palm is deeply ingrained in history and literature.
- The Palmyra palm is the national tree of Cambodia, owing to its broad-range, utilitarian contributions.
Quirky Facts
- Palmyra palm trees are self-healing and do not spread infections.
- Palmyra palm fiber has remarkably little 'give' and has been used for many years for making durable, tough brooms for cleaning jobs that require muscle rather than finesse.
- Palmyra palm sugar (also know as Suga Vida or Palmyra Jaggery) is the only bio-available, plant-based source of Vitamin B12 found in Nature.