Mealy bug palm
Dypsis mananjarensis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A solitary palm. It grows 6-25 m tall. The trunk is 14-29 cm across. There are rings of widely spaced leaf scars. The crown-shaft is 1.3 m long and covered with a waxy bloom. It has large waxy scales which can be green, yellow or orange. The crown-shaft bulges at the base. There are only a few leaves which form a half circle. The leaves are 3.1 m long and arranged in 3 layers. They are spreading but do not arch over. The leaflets are 1-1.3 m long are narrowly sword shaped. The leaves have a feathery appearance.

There are 140 Dypsis species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in both dry and wet locations at low altitudes in Madagascar. It grows up to 200 m altitude. It cannot tolerate frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

This palm should not be eaten unless grown from your own seed.

Edible parts

Palm heart, cabbage, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

It grows quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Laafa, Lakatra, Ovodaafa

Synonyms

Chrysalidocarpus fibrosus Jum.; Chrysalidocarpus mananjarensis Jum. & H. Perrier;