Niusawa
Veitchia joannis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A solitary palm. It can grow to 30 m high. The trunk is slender and grey. It is about 35 cm across. The fronds are dark green and shiny and arch over. They are 3 m long. The leaves are feather like. The leaflets droop. The plant does not have thorns. It has a prominent crown-shaft. The flowering stalk is at the base of the crown-shaft. The flowers are of one sex but both sexes occur on the one plant. The fruit are in dense clusters. The fruit are red and sharply beaked. The fruit are 5-6 cm long.

There are 8 Veitchia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They grow in forests and rainforests from sea level to moderate altitudes. It is relatively cold tolerant. It cannot survive frost. Young plants are best is a lightly shaded position. Mature plants can grow in full sun. They need an organically rich, well drained soil. In Fiji they grow from sea level to 800 m altitude. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Fiji, Pacific, SE Asia, Singapore

How it is used for food

The seeds are edible. They are eaten immature. The palm heart is edible and eaten raw.

The seeds are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Nuts, palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

Mature seed germinate easily. Germination can take 4-6 weeks or several months. Seedlings should not be allowed to dry out.

It is fast growing. They respond to side dressings of nitrogen fertiliser.

Its other names

Local names

Niuroro, Saqiwa, Taqwa

Synonyms

Kentia joannis F. v. Muell.; Kentia fijan Hort.;