Ravenea lakatra
(Jum.) Beentje
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(c) Bill Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bill Baker
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Louis Aureglia, some rights reserved (CC BY)
iNaturalist· cc-by
(c) Louis Aureglia, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Summary
Source: WikipediaRavenea lakatra is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family. It is a palm endemic to Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss and overcollection. There are probably fewer than 30 mature plants remaining in the wild.
Description
A palm.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The palm heart is eaten. The apical bud, often known as a 'palm heart', is eaten as a vegetable. Eating this bud leads to the death of the tree because it is unable to make side shoots.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Moist lowland forest on slight mid slopes or ridge crests; at elevations from 50 - 1,200 metres.
Cultivation
The leaves of this species are exploited by local people for weaving hats and individual palms may be pruned into juvenility by constant harvest of the emerging leaves. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Other Uses
The leaves are used for weaving hats.
Synonyms
References (1)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
