Phoenix sylvestris

Phoenix sylvestris (sylvestris - Latin, of the forest) also known as silver date palm, Indian date, sugar date palm or wild date palm, is a species of flowering plant in the palm family native to southern Pakistan, most of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It has been introduced to southeastern China, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands. Growing in plains and scrubland up to 1300 m above sea level, the fruit from this palm species is used to make wine and jelly. The sap is tapped and drunk fresh or fermented into toddy. The fresh sap is boiled to make palm jaggery in West Bengal state of India and Bangladesh.

Description

A tall palm. It is unbranched up to 15 m high. The trunk is rough with persistent leaf bases. The trunk is 60-75 cm across. The crown is thick and half rounded to rounded. The leaves are grey-green or covered with a waxy layer. They are 2-3 m long. They have a spiky appearance. They are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are 20-25 cm long and with a sharp point. The flowering spikes are enclosed by boat shaped bracts. They are 60-75 cm long. They occur between the leaves. The male flowers are yellowish-white. They have a scent. The female flowers are greenish with a brown tinge. The fruit are yellow when ripe. They are edible. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. Both are needed for fruit.

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible but of very inferior quality. The sap can be concentrated into a syrup or fermented into alcohol and is one of the main sources of sugar in Bengal. It is obtained by cutting the tip from the unopened inflorescence and allowing the sap to flow from the cut. The flow can reach up to 5 litres per day for several months, and the sap contains approximately 14% sugar.

Traditional Uses

The sap from the stalk is used for a drink. It is also fermented. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They can be used for jams or jellies. The seeds are edible. The flower stalk is tapped for sap which is boiled down to date sugar. It is used for jaggery and sugar. The growing tip or cabbage is eaten. A kind of sago can be extracted from the stem.

Medicinal Uses

No medicinal uses are known for this plant.

Distribution

It grows in tropical and temperate regions. It can grow in inland and coastal districts. It needs a sunny position and a well drained soil. It grows on barren hills in India. It is often on sandy soils. It grows naturally in the Indus basin in Pakistan. It can grow up to 1500 m altitude in SE Asia. Melbourne Botanical gardens. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Fiji, Guam, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Rotuma, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate easily. Germination takes about 3 months.

Propagation

Seed - probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in containers, otherwise sow the seed as soon as you obtain it. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 months.

Other Uses

No other uses are known for this plant.

Production

It is quite fast growing. Sap can be taken from the side of the crown. This can be started when the palm is 7-10 years old and continue for 20-25 years. The annual yield per palm is 100 l of juice. This can be converted to 3 kg of sugar.

Other Information

It is cultivated in large areas in India for sap. The fruit are sold in markets.

Notes

There are 17 Phoenix species. It is indigenous to many parts of India.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Boa kadhuru, Boichand, Chhindi, Chotti khagoor, Date sugar palm, Deshi khejur, Desi khajoor, Eatha, Eetha pandlu, Etha, Ethum pannay, Ichalu, Icham, Inthaphalam-thai, Ita chettu, Jangali khajoor, Jangli khajur, Kajar, Kattueenthu, Kejur, Khajji, Khajoor, Khajur, Khajuri, Khakri, Kharak, Khejur palm, Khejur, Kojari, Oedda-ita, Palem korma perak, Pedda-ita, Pind, Sendi, Sendri, Shindi, Shindoli, Sindhi, Sindi, Silver Date palm, Sindi, Sugar date palm, Tadi, Taw-sunpalun, Thakal, Thakkal, Wild date palm

References (71)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 449
• Amoros, A., et al, 2014, Physico-chemical and functional characteristics of date fruits from different Phoenix species (Arecaceae). Fruits, Vol. 69, p. 315-323
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 81
• Bajpai, O., et al, 2015, Tree species of the Himalayan Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India: a checklist. Check List 11(4): 1718
• Balick, M.J. and Beck, H.T., (Ed.), 1990, Useful palms of the World. A Synoptic Bibliography. Colombia p 81, 200, 403, 435, 607,

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