Nibong, Nibung palm
Oncosperma tigillarium

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A tall slender palm. It grows in clumps. They can be 25 m high. Each trunk is 10-15 cm across. There can be 50 trunks in a clump. It has numerous, long, horizontal spreading stiff sharp spines borne on the trunk throughout its length. The leaves are dark green and have leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets droop. The leaf stalks are covered with long black spines. The fruit are small, round and 11 to 12 mm across.

There are 5 Oncospermum species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It thrives in hot humid conditions. It grows in coastal swamps. In the Philippines they tend to grow in clumps in valleys or at the back of mangrove swamps often where there is salt or brackish water. In Cairns Botanical Gardens. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Brunei, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand

How it is used for food

The bud is eaten raw or cooked. The nuts are used as a betel nut substitute. The flowers are used as a flavouring for rice. The fruit can be made into a preserve.

Edible parts

Cabbage, nuts - masticatory, fruit, flowers, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed must be sown fresh. Seed take 2-3 months to germinate.

Removing the bud prevents flowers forming.

Its other names

Local names

Anau, Anibong, Anibung, Cha on, Enibong, Gendiwung, Hanibung, Kazaung, Kenab, Lao cha on, Moh, Mok, Nibong lenau, Nibong, Nibong pa saloi, Nibung, Sanggang

Synonyms

Areca nibung Mart.; Areca spinosa Hasselt & Kunth; Areca tigillaria Jack; Euterpe filamentosa Kunth; Keppleria tigillaria (Jack) Meisn.; Oncospermum cambodianum Meisn.; Oncospermum filamentosum Blume; ?