Pinanga gracilis

Blume

Arecaceae Edible: Seeds, Nuts 4 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A slender palm. It grows 4 m tall. The stem is 1.5 cm across. The leaves have leaflets almost divided to the midrib. The male and female flowers are separate with a female flower between two male flowers. They are in clusters. The fruit is oval with a fibrous outer covering. The fruit are yellow when ripe. They are oval and 1.8 cm long by 1 cm wide.

Edible Uses

The ripe seeds or nuts are eaten like betel nut.

Traditional Uses

The ripe seeds or nuts are eaten like betel nut.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in lowland and mountain rain forests below 1,200 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Tibet,

Cultivation

Pinanga gracilis is a plant of the humid tropics and subtropics, where it is found at low to moderate elevations. It is one of the more cold-tolerant species in the genus (though not frost hardy), and is known to tolerate temperatures down to around 3 - 4°c. 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.

Propagation

Seed - Division of new growths at the base

Synonyms

Areca gracilis Roxb. [Illegitimate]Areca gracilis Buch.-Ham.and others

Also Known As

Geruka tamul, Morizya, Mumai tamul, Ram gua, Tachar, Taecher, Tar-tiang, Taw-kun

References (6)

Angami, A., et al, 2006, Status and potential of wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(4) October 2006, pp 541-550
Kar, A., et al, 2013, Wild Edible Plant Resources used by the Mizos of Mizoram, India. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology. Vol. 9, No. 1, July, 2013, 106-126
Murtem, G. & Chaudhrey, P., 2016, An ethnobotanical note on wild edible plants of Upper Eastern Himalaya, India. Brazilian Journal of Biological Sciences, 2016, v. 3, no. 5, p. 63-81
Patiri, B. & Borah, A., 2007, Wild Edible Plants of Assam. Geethaki Publishers. p 152
Salvi, J. et al, 2016, A review: Underutilized wild edible plants as a potential source of alternative nutrition. International Journal of Botany Studies. Volume 1; Issue 4; May 2016; Page No. 32-36

Show all 6 references