Dickson palm, Indian Ivory cane palm
Pinanga dicksonii

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It can be a solitary or clumping palm. The trunks are slender and green. They can be 5-8 m tall and 5 cm thick. The trunk has widely spaced light grey rings of leaf base scars. The crown-shaft is 60 cm tall. The leaves are about 1 m long and have leaflets along the stalk. These are broad and without leaflet stalks. They can be 60 cm long. The flowering branches are golden when new. The fruit are 2 cm long and reddish when ripe.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs naturally in cool, humid mountains gullies. In the Indian Ghats it grows to 330 m altitude. They are somewhat cold tolerant. They suit the tropics and subtropics. Shade is preferable. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, India

How it is used for food

The nut is used as a betel substitute.

Edible parts

Nuts - masticatory, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Jandarige, Kadu adike, Kanakamuka, Kondapoka

Synonyms

Areca dicksonii Roxb.; Ptychosperma dicksonii (Roxb.) Miq.; Seaforthia dicksonii (Roxb.) Mart.;