Bagtoan palm
Pinanga copelandii
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A slender and very small palm. It can grow to 10 m tall. The trunk is 10 cm across. The crown-shaft is 1 m long and dull green. The leaves have many segments and are very unequal. They have one to many ribs. The leaves are 3 m long. They are uniform dark green on the upper surface or slightly mottled. The leaf tips are divided. The flower is a spike around a central axis with the branches arranged in a spiral. The fruit is arranged in 2 rows. They are 8 to 20 mm by 13 mm. The seed is spherical with a horizontal embryo.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They occur in damp primary forests at low and medium altitudes and up to 1200 m in the Philippines. It grows in tropical and subtropical regions.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Indonesia, Pacific, Philippines (country/location of origin), SE Asia
How it is used for food
The bud is cooked and eaten.
Edible parts
Cabbage, bud, palm heart
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Abiki, Pinang kopelandi