Heterospathe elmeri
Becc.
Arecaceae Edible: Nuts, Palm heart, Cabbage
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President and Fellows of Harvard College
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department | NSF/Mellon - GPI
Description
A solitary palm. It grows to 8 m high. The leaves are erect and 3-4 m long. The leaflets are many and narrowly sword shaped. They are regularly spaced and 60 cm long. They hang down.
Edible Uses
The nuts are used as a betel substitute. The palm heart is edible, as is the cabbage (heart of palm).
Traditional Uses
The nut is used as a betel substitute. The palm heart is edible.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in dense rainforest at low altitudes.
Where It Grows
Asia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia,
Production
It is slow growing.
Notes
There are about 32 Heterospathe species.
Synonyms
Ptychoraphis elmeri (Becc.) Becc.Ptychoraphis microcarpa Becc.Rhopaloblaste elmeri (Becc.) Becc.Rhopaloblaste microcarpa (Becc.) Becc.
References (4)
- Haynes, J., & McLaughlin, J., 2000, Edible palms and Their Uses. University of Florida Fact sheet MCDE-00-50-1 p 6
- Johnson, D.V., 1998, Tropical palms. Non-wood Forest products 10. FAO Rome. p 44
- Riffle, R.L. & Craft, P., 2003, An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press. p 348
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
