Red salak facts for kids

Salacca affinis, often called red salak or red snakefruit, is a type of flowering shrub. It belongs to the palm family. Its scientific name, affinis, comes from Latin. It means "at the boundary," because this plant looks similar to another palm called Salacca zalacca. You might also hear it called buah ridan or linsum in some places.

Where it Grows

This plant naturally grows in parts of Southeast Asia. You can find it in Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Java, and Sumatra. It likes to grow in the lower parts of rainforests. It especially thrives near ponds and swampy areas.

What it Looks Like

Salacca affinis is a plant that grows in large, spiny clumps. It has male and female flowers on separate plants. Its stems usually grow underground or creep along the ground. However, they can sometimes grow up to 1 to 2 meters (3.2 to 6.5 feet) tall.

Leaves and Spines

The stalks of the leaves, called petioles, can be up to 1 meter long. They are covered in yellow-orange to brown spines. These spines can be as long as 10 centimeters (4 inches). They grow in groups of 2 to 4.

The leaves themselves are pale green and look like feathers. They can be up to 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) long and 6 centimeters (2.3 inches) wide. They are shaped like a spear and tend to droop. The main stem of the leaf, called the rachis, also has spines. The tips of the top leaves are often jagged or torn.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers grow in clusters called inflorescences. These clusters grow from where the leaves meet the stem. They are protected by small, leaf-like structures called bracts.

Male flower clusters are long, about 50 to 100 centimeters (19.6 to 39.3 inches). They have branches with flattened spines. Male flowers grow on small, ear-shaped branches. Each male flower is about 4 to 6 centimeters (1.5 to 2.3 inches) long.

Female flower clusters are shorter, up to 5 centimeters (1.9 inches) long. They also have branches with female flowers on ear-shaped parts. Female flowers are up to 3 centimeters (1.1 inches) long.

The fruit is somewhat oval-shaped. It is about 8 centimeters (3.1 inches) long and 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) wide. Both ends of the fruit are tapered. When ripe, the fruit turns red and has smooth scales. This is why it's sometimes called "snakefruit."

Seeds and Growing Conditions

Inside the fruit, there are usually up to 3 pale yellow to white seeds. The fruit grows in the center of the plant. This makes it hard to reach because of all the spines. The fruit is edible. It tastes sour but also a little sweet. Some say it tastes similar to asam paya.

This plant reproduces easily and quickly from seeds. The seeds usually sprout within 15 days. They need a warm, humid place with temperatures above 21°C (69.8°F) to grow.

Salacca affinis prefers places with some shade and high humidity. It likes to be protected from strong winds. It grows best where it rains more than 1500 millimeters (59 inches) each year. It also needs soil that drains well, is slightly acidic or neutral, and has lots of organic material. The plant can handle temperatures as low as 20°C (68°F). It might survive even colder temperatures for very short times, but it could get seriously damaged.

Uses

Salacca affinis is not grown very often outside of its natural home. Its many spines make it difficult to plant in parks or gardens. So, you usually only see it in botanical gardens.

People don't grow it much for its fruit either. The fruit from Salacca zalacca is considered better. However, local people sometimes gather the fruit of Salacca affinis and sell it in markets.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has not yet officially checked the conservation status of Salacca affinis. In 2011, this plant was found again in Singapore. It was rediscovered in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest. Before that, people thought it had disappeared from Singapore.