Bal-la
Livistona rotundifolia var. microcarpa
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A large palm with fan shaped leaves with an even leaf edge in their central part. The flowers are very small about 2 mm across. The leaf stalk of the adult plant is spiny in their basal part but otherwise without spines. The central segment of the adult leaves is short and split about midway into two lobes at the tip. The fruit is 12 to 15 mm across and the kernel along is 10 to 13 mm across. The seed is 8 to 10 mm across.
There are 28 Livistona species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They are widely distributed in forested areas of the Philippines.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The bud is eaten raw or cooked.
Edible parts
Cabbage, palm heart