Kelubi palm
Eleiodoxa conferta

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A spiny palm without a trunk. The trunk is under the ground and branches freely forming a spreading clump. It forms clumps and has feather-like leaves. The leaves are 4 m long. They are held stiffly erect and only arch over slightly. The leaf stalks are 3 m long and green. The leaf stalks and midrib are covered with long sharp, black spines. The leaflets are regularly spaced and 1.6 m long. They are narrowly sword shaped and end with a tip cut off at an angle. There are short spines along the edge. The plants are of one sex only. The flowering stalk grows from the underground stem. This stem then dies off. The fruit are about 3 cm long. They are pear shaped and when ripe are dull yellow. The fruit are covered with scales. The sour flesh of the fruit is widely used in cooking.

There is only one Eleiodoxa species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They form thickets in swampy, lowland areas. It likes a hot tropical climate. It needs plenty of water and rich acidic soil. It cannot tolerate cold or frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The fruit are used as a vegetable to make pickles and relishes. They are sour and a substitute for tamarind. The palm heart is edible.

The fruit are pickled and sold in Malaysia. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed are slow and erratic to germinate. Clumps of palms can be divided.

Its other names

Local names

Asam paya, Kra-lu-bi, Kuwai-kuwai, Salak hutan, Som lumphi

Synonyms

Eleiodoxa microcarpa Burret; Eleiodoxa orthoschista Burret; Eleiodoxa scortechinii (Becc.) Burret; Eleiodoxa xantholepis Burret; Salacca conferta Griff.; Salacca scortechinii Becc.;