Palasan
Calamus maximus
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A very robust climbing cane. The leaf sheaths are covered with slender very small pointed structures. The leaflets have long bristles especially on the midrib underneath. There is a whip like structure attached as as part of the leaf. The fruit are round and the secondary bracts around the flower cluster are smooth.
There are 375-400 Calamus species. There are 175 species in tropical Asia.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They occur throughout the Philippines in forested areas.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The bud is cooked and eaten. The fleshy part of the fruit is eaten raw.
Edible parts
Shoots, sap, fruit