Nyabah palm
Pinanga arinasae
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A solitary palm. It grows 10-12 m tall. The trunk is 12-15 cm across. The leaves are 2.5 m long and have leaflets along the stalk. The sheaths are 1.1 m long and purplish-green with a silvery coating. There are 35-45 leaflets on each side of the stalk. They are regularly arranged and are narrow. The flowering shoot comes from amongst the leaves and is drooping. The fruit are oval and 12-17 mm long by 8-12 mm wide. They are green and ripen to blackish-red.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in Bali. It grows in mountain rainforests on very steep hillsides between 1,100-1,400 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia (country/location of origin), SE Asia
How it is used for food
The young fruit are used as a substitute for betel nut.
Edible parts
Fruit - masticatory, palm heart, cabbage
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Plem nyabah