Patsha
Plectocomia himalayana
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A rattan. It grows in clusters. The stems are 20 m long by 5-10 cm wide. The leaf sheaths are green and covered with white hairs. There are brown needle like spines 2.5 cm long. The leafy stalk i 1.5 m long and has 30 leaflets on each side. They are sword shaped with a fine tip. There are small spines along the edge. The leaflets are irregularly arranged in clusters of 2 or 3 and are spread in different planes.
Where it is found
It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in mountain rain forests between 1,500-2,500 m above sea level in southern China. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Nepal, SE Asia, Thailand
How it is used for food
The young shoots are used as a vegetable. The scales are removed and the inner pith chopped up and cooked.
It is commonly eaten in Bhutan.
Edible parts
Shoots
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Kharkharay bet, Patsha, Phegkray bet, Tokri