Dragon's blood palm
Daemonorops draco

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 10 m high and spreads 4 m wide. The stems are long and slender. The leaves are palm like. They have prickly leaf stalks. The flowers are white and occur along the branches. The fruit are tapering berries.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is best in moist, sandy, humus-rich soil. It needs a protected, partly shaded position. It is damaged by frost and drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The resin from the fruit is used to flavour and colour drinks. The palm heart is cooked and eaten. This is often with coconut milk and fish.

Edible parts

Fruit - colouring, palm heart

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Uway, Yantok

Synonyms

Calamus draco Willd.; Calamus draconis Oken; Daemorops propinqua Becc.; Palmijuncus draco (Willd._ Kuntze;