Size: Relatively fast growing to 90 feet (30 m)
Min. Temperature: 26°F (-3°C)
Water Requirements: Regular water
Sun Requirements: Light shade
Origin: India, Burma, Sri Lanka
Leaf: Bipinnate, Dark green, 9 feet.
Trunk: N/A, Gray, smooth with leaf scars
Flower: Cream. Flower stalk coming from among the leaves, 12 inches.
Fruit: Dull red. 3/4 inches. round.
Seed: Dull gray. Round with groves.

The sap contains a significant percentage of sugar. It is used to make an alcoholic drink. As the other caryotas, the fruit pulp is caustic and should be handled with care. The central part of the trunk (the sago) is starchy and is sometimes eaten.

Desert Tropicals Home Page | List of All the Plants | Check for more members of the Arecaceae family

© 1998-2020 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved.