Manambe palm
Dypsis decipiens

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A clustering palm. It can be solitary but often has younger shoots at the base. It grows 6-20 m high. The trunk is fattened in the middle. It is 30-40 cm across at the base then 50-70 cm in the middle and 25-30 cm across near the crown. It has a ringed trunk and a crown-shaft. The leaves are feather shaped and re-curved. The leaflets point upwards. The flower stalks bearing yellow flowers appear below the crown-shaft. The fruit are round and about 2 cm across.

There are 140 Dypsis species.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows on rocky sites between 1400-2000 m altitude in Madagascar. It suits the subtropics. It needs good drainage. It suits a frost less Mediterranean climate. It can stand light frost and tolerate drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, East Africa, Madagascar (country/location of origin), North America, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Palm heart, cabbage, vegetable

How it is grown

The seeds germinate in about 8 weeks.

They are slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Betefaka, Sihara leibe

Synonyms

Chrysalidocarpus decipiens Becc.; Macrophloga decipiens (Becc.) Becc.;