Dypsis pilulifera

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A solitary palm. It grows 8-30 m tall. The trunk is 10-40 cm across. Young parts are green and older parts are brown or dark grey. There are distinct rings of old leaf base scars. The crown-shaft is 1-1.6 m long. It bulges at the base. There are only a few leaves and they are 4-5 m long. They are spreading and slightly arching. The leaflets are deep green. They are 1-1.3 m long. They grow in widely spaced groups and hang down.

There are 140 Dypsis species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from 750-950 m altitude in Madagascar. It grows in rainforest. It suits humid locations. It does best in good soil and with adequate moisture. It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Madagascar (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

It grows quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Hozatanana, Lavaboko, Ovomamy, Tavila

Synonyms

Chrysalidocarpus paucifolius Jum.; Chrysalidocarpus piluliferus Becc.;