Carpoxylon macrospermum

H. A. Wendl. & Drude

Carpoxylon palm

Arecaceae Edible: Fruit, Cabbage, Palm heart Potential hazards — see below 23 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A solitary feather-leafed palm. It has a prominent green crown-shaft. The stem has prominent rings. The trunk can be 18 m tall and 35 cm across. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are long and feathery. The leaves arch over. The flowering stalk comes from below the crown-shaft. The fruit are 6 cm long by 3.5 cm wide. They are red. These have an edible kernel.

Edible Uses

The young, immature fruit are edible, and the palm heart (cabbage) and fruit kernels can be consumed.

Traditional Uses

The young, immature fruit are edible.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

This is an endangered species.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in partial shade or full sun. It needs plenty of moisture. It is damaged by frost. It needs humus-rich soil. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In Townsville palmetum.

Where It Grows

Australia, North America, Pacific, USA, Vanuatu,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed take 3-6 months to germinate. Young plants require shade for the first few years.

Production

Seedling growth is very rapid providing it has plenty of moisture.

Other Information

It is a cultivated plant.

Notes

There is only one Carpoxylon species. It is an endangered species.

Also Known As

Bungool, Nibaglou, Nohoej

References (8)

Dowe, J.L., 1989, Palms of the South-West Pacific. Palm and Cycad Society of Australia. p 106
Gibbons, M., 2003, A pocket guide to Palms. Chartwell Books. p 65
Haynes, J., & McLaughlin, J., 2000, Edible palms and Their Uses. University of Florida Fact sheet MCDE-00-50-1 p 4
Johnson, D.V., 1998, Tropical palms. Non-wood Forest products 10. FAO Rome. p 79
Jones, D.L., 2000, Palms of Australia 3rd edition. Reed/New Holland. p 131

Show all 8 references

Marinelli, J. (Ed), 2004, Plant. DK. p 362
Riffle, R.L. & Craft, P., 2003, An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press. p 289
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