Hovomantsina
Dypsis hovomantsina
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A solitary palm. It grows 6-15 m tall. The trunk is 20-30 cm across. The younger parts are grey-green and become light brown. There are widely spaced rings of leaf scars. The crown-shaft bulges. The crown-shaft is 1 m high and is waxy white. It is reddish brown right near the top. The lower parts of the the leaf sheath are waxy white. The leaves form a half circle. The leaves are 3.1 m long and do not arch over. The leaflets are narrow and dark green. They grow at right angles to give a feathery appearance. The palm heart smells.
There are 140 Dypsis species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforests in Madagascar. It suits humid locations. It cannot tolerate cold. It needs humus rich soil and plenty of moisture.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Madagascar
How it is used for food
The palm heart is smelly but is eaten.
Edible parts
Palm heart, cabbage