Niniu
Hydriastele cylindrocarpa

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A tall palm. It grows 35 m high. The trunk is less than 25 cm across. The trunk is light grey to white. It has closely spaced rings of leaf scars. The trunk is expanded at the base. The crown-shaft is 1 m long and light or silvery green. It is slightly bulged at the base. The leaf crown is rounded with 15-18 leaves. The leaves are 2.3 m long with 25 cm long stalks. The leaves arch over and curve back at the tips. The leaflets are 1 m long and narrowly sword shaped. They are olive green above and greyish-green underneath. They are stiff and divide at the tips. They grow at an angle forming a V shape. The fruit are 2 cm long by 0.7-0.8 cm wide. They are orange or yellow.

There are 9 Gulubia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mountainous rainforest. It grows between 100-1,060 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten. The palm heart is eaten.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Gulubia cylindrocarpa Becc.;