Dotalu
Loxococcus rupicola
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A solitary palm. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The trunk is slender and grey. It grows 7 m high. It has distinct rings on younger parts. The crown-shaft is 65 cm long. It is deep green and smooth. The leaf crown forms a half circle. There are 10 or less leaves. The leaves are 3.1 m long. They arch over. The leaflets are widely spaced, narrow and deep green. The leaflets are 60 cm long. Young leaves form a V shape. The flowering stalk grows beneath the crown-shaft. It is short and stiff with spreading branches with both male and female flowers. The fruit are 2.5 cm across. They are egg shaped. They are reddish-brown when mature.
There is only one Loxococcus species. It is an endangered species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in mountainous rainforest between 330 and 1660 m altitude. It needs a moist acid soil. The soil needs to be well drained.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Sri Lanka
How it is used for food
The palm heart is edible. The nut is chewed as a substitute for betel nut.
Edible parts
Palm heart, fruit, cabbage
How it is grown
It is slow growing.