Pinanga simplicifrons
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A palm. It grows 1.5 m tall. The stems are very slender and wave from side to side. They are 1.3 m tall and 1.3 cm wide. The palm forms spreading clumps about 1 m tall. There is a loose, poorly developed crown-shaft along the upper side of the stem. The leaves are simple and undivided. They are 30 cm long. They are oblong in shape and with a deep fork at the tip. They are scattered along the stem. The fruiting stalk is inside the sheath on the stem. The fruit are small and scarlet. They are horn shaped. The fruit are 1.3 cm long.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows naturally in Malaysian lowland rainforest along the flooded plains of streams. It needs a shady location.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Brunei, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand
How it is used for food
Nut sometimes used as a betel substitute.
Edible parts
Nuts - masticatory
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed, suckers or aerial layers.