Jenkin's fan palm, Assam fan palm
Livistona jenkinsiana
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A slender palm. It grows 10-26 m tall. The trunk is 25-45 cm across. The trunk has flattened leaf stalk stubs in its lower portion. The crown is thick and rounded. The leaves are large and fan shaped. They are 1.3 m across. They are numerous segments which have 2 lobes. They are bluish-green underneath. The fruit occur in dense hanging clusters. They are blue when ripe and 2.5 cm across.
There are 28 Livistona species. The Assamese people make Jhapee hats from the leaves.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It will grow in temperate and subtropical places. It grows in rainforest. In southern China it grows between 100-2,500 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia (country/location of origin), Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand
How it is used for food
Fresh nuts are used as a masticatory. They are chewed like betel nut. They are hard but sweet. The ripe fruit are soaked in salt for 4-5 days and then the fleshy layer is eaten. It is also used as chutney.
Edible parts
Nuts, seeds, masticatory, shoots
How it is grown
The plants are grown from fresh seed which germinate easily.
In Nagaland fruit are available October to December.
Its other names
Local names
Palem kipas jenkin, Purbong, Taak, Taek, Takau-araung, Talainyom, Taung-htan, Toko pat, Tokou, Tulacmyom, Yuoh