kids encyclopedia robot

Palmyra palm facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Palmyra palm
Asian palmyra (Borassus flabellifer).JPG
Borassus flabellifer in Karainagar, Sri Lanka
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Tribe: Borasseae
Genus: Borassus
L.
Type species
Borassus flabellifer
Species

See text

Synonyms

Borassus (palmyra palm) is a genus of five species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Papua New Guinea.

Description

These massive palms can grow up to 30 m (98 ft) high and have robust trunks with distinct leaf scars; in some species the trunk develops a distinct swelling just below the crown, though for unknown reasons.

The leaves are fan-shaped, 2–3 m long and with spines along the petiole margins (no spines in B. heineanus). The leaf sheath has a distinct cleft at its base, through which the inflorescences appear; old leaf sheaths are retained on the trunk, but fall away with time.

All Borassus palms are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants; male flowers are less than 1 cm long and in semi-circular clusters, sandwiched between leathery bracts in pendulous catkins; female flowers are 3–5 cm wide, globe-shaped and solitary, sitting directly on the surface of the inflorescence axis.

The fruits are 15–25 cm wide, roughly spherical and each contain 1-3 large seeds. Depending on species, fruit color varies from black to brown, yellow or orange; the fibrous pulp is aromatic and sweet to taste. Each seed is enclosed in a woody endocarp, which protects it when the fruit is consumed by elephants, monkeys and other frugivores. At germination, the young seedling extends downwards into the soil and only a few leaves are visible above ground; this provides some protection against frequent fires in its savanna habitat; after an indeterminate number of years (the establishment phase), the seedling forms a stem and quickly grows above the savanna vegetation, where it is then less vulnerable to fire.

Species

Image Fruits Common Name Scientific name Native Distribution
Borassus Aethiopum jeunes 06.jpg Palmyra Palm Fruits (Borassus aethiopum) (6936992546).jpg African palmyra palm, Rônier (and other names) Borassus aethiopum tropical Africa & Madagascar
Niger, Guesselbodi (7), village scene.jpg Borassus ake-assii MS 1315.JPG Ake Assi's palmyra palm Borassus akeassii West and Central Africa
பனைமரம் 7.JPG நொங்கு பழம்.jpg Asian palmyra palm/lontar palm/doub palm Borassus flabellifer southern Asia from India to Indonesia
Papua New Guinea palmyra palm Borassus heineanus Papua New Guinea
Madagascar palmyra palm Borassus madagascariensis Madagascar

Cultivation and uses

Angkor wat temple
The main entrance of Angkor Wat to the temple proper, seen from the eastern end of the Nāga causeway and Asian palmyra palm
Borassus aethiopum MS 4049
Young African palmyra palm (Borassus aethiopum)

Palmyra palms are economically useful and widely cultivated, especially in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The palmyra palm has long been one of the most important trees of Cambodia and India, where it has over 800 uses. The leaves are used for thatching, mats, baskets, fans, hats, umbrellas, and as writing material.

In Sri Lanka, it is more common in the northern part of the country, where it has many uses including the production of jaggery from the syrup.

In Cambodia, the tree is a national floral symbol/emblem that is seen growing around Angkor Wat. Palmyra palms can live for over 100 years.

In ancient India, palmyra leaves were used as writing paper, with their parallel veins providing a useful rule. In India, mature leaves of suitable size, shape and texture were chosen and preserved by boiling in salt water with turmeric powder. Once dry enough, the leaf surfaces were polished with pumice, cut to the proper size and a hole was cut in one corner. Each leaf has four pages and a stylus is used to write; the style is cursive and interconnected. Completed leaves are then tied up as sheaves.

The black timber is hard, heavy, and durable and highly valued for construction, especially in structures exposed to water, such as wharves, fences and boats.

Borassus ake-assii MS 1315
Ake Assi's palmyra palm (Borassus akeassii) fruit
Chestnut in Guntur
Jelly-like seeds of palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) fruit

The tree yields many types of food. The young plants are cooked as a vegetable or roasted and pounded to make meal. The fruits are eaten roasted or raw, as are the young, jelly-like seeds. A sugary sap, called toddy, can be obtained from the young inflorescence, both male and female, and this is fermented to make a beverage called arrack, or concentrated to produce a crude sugar called jaggery/palm sugar. It is called Gula Jawa (Javanese sugar) in Indonesia and is widely used in Javanese cuisine. The roots can be dried to form Odiyal, a hard chewable snack. In addition, the tree sap is taken as a laxative, and medicinal values have been ascribed to other parts of the plant.

In Tamil culture

The palmyra tree (பனை மரம்) is the official tree of Tamil Nadu. It is highly respected and used by the people in Tamil Nadu. The leaf of the tree is used for fan making. It is also placed for roofs. The leaves are placed on top of a house. It is also used for baskets, mats, hats and more. The fruit is eaten by many. The fruit is called nungu. This fruit is also used to make sweets. The wood is used for making beds, tables, chairs, cabinets and much more. In ancient times this plant's bark was used to make pencils to write on banana leaves.

Palakkad, Kerala

Palakkad District of Kerala State is popularly known as the "land of palmyra trees" (കരിമ്പനകളുടെ നാട്). Palmyra trees are known as the icon of this district and has a vast cultural, heritage and literary association. Many novels, stories and poems revolve around these trees The path-breaking Malayalam novel written by the Indian writer O. V. Vijayan, Khasakkinte Itihasam mentions palmyra trees in various angles. Many people especially in eastern Palakkad live on earnings by tapping palmyra toddy, which is sold in outlets controlled by co-op societies. The district authorities are taking action to preserve these trees and maintain Palakkad’s identity.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Borassus para niños

kids search engine
Palmyra palm Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.