Ceylon Date
Phoenix zeylanica

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A slender palm. It has a single trunk. The trunk is 6 m high and 20-30 cm across. It is densely covered with old leaf bases. The crown is compact. The leaves are sharp and tend to hang down. The leaves are 2 m long. The leaflets are many and light green and stiff. They are sharply pointed. Leaflets are well spaced along the midrib. They arise in different planes. This gives the leaves a feathery appearance. The flowering stalks are much branched and spreading. The flowers are cream to yellow. The fruit are red to purplish-black. They are oval and 12 mm long.

There are 17 Phoenix species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows near the sea.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The fruit are sweet and edible. The pith of the stem can be used for starch in times of scarcity.

Edible parts

Fruit, pith - starch

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Indi

Synonyms

Phoenix pusilla Becc. non Gaertn.;