Pinanga tashiroi

Hayata

Arecaceae Edible: Seeds - masticatory 56 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Pinanga tashiroi is a species of palm tree in the family Arecaceae. It is a small tree, up to 5 m (16 ft) tall, swollen at base. It is a critically endangered species.

Description

A palm. It grows less than 5 m tall. The trunk is 20 cm across. It is swollen at the base and grey-white. The leaves are compound with leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 2 m long. The leaves are deep green. The leaflets are narrow and 60 cm long by 2-2.5 cm wide. The sheath is 1 m long. The flowers are of separate sexes and on the same plant. The fruit is oval and 1.8 cm long by 1.2 cm across. They are deep red. They contain one seed.

Edible Uses

The seeds are chewed as a masticatory substitute for betel nut.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are chewed as a substitute for betel nut.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It occurs on Lanyu Island, Taiwan. It grows in lowland rain forests below 500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, Taiwan*,

Cultivation

Pinanga tashiroi is a plant of the humid tropics, where it is found at low elevations. Species in this genus generally require a warm, sheltered position with at least moderate shade, especially when young. They grow best in a circumneutral, moist but well-drained soil and strongly dislike dry conditions. This species is somewhat salt-tolerant. A moderately fast-growing species.