Pondoland palm, Kaffir palm
Jubaeopsis caffra
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A palm up to 5-8 m tall. It always has several stems from the base. The trunks are short. The leaves are feather-shaped. They are 3-4 m long. They are stiff and dark green. There are no spines on the leaf stalk. There is a slight twist along the leaf stalk. Individual leaflets are stiff, very slender and with an unequal lobe at the tip. Male and female flowers are separate but on the same tree. The flowers are about 1 cm across. They occur in zigzag branched sprays. These occur amongst the leaves. The male flowers are on the upper part of the branches. The fruit are almost round and 3 cm long and 2 cm across. The milk and meat are eaten.
There is only one Jubaeopsis species.
Where it is found
It grows along river banks in Pondo land in South Africa. It grows naturally on rocky cliffs near rivers. It suits warm temperate and subtropical regions. It favours sandy soil where groundwater is available. It cannot tolerate frost. It grows between 100-150 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, North America, South Africa (country/location of origin), Southern Africa, USA
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten when green. It is the sweet edible flesh inside the seeds.
The fruit are eaten especially by children.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed. Seed are slow and erratic to germinate. Growing seed on the surface of propagating mix and covering them with sphagnum moss has helped germination. Young plants can tolerate exposure to sun. It can be grown vegetatively by making a vertical cut in the leaf crown.
It is slow growing. Hand pollination is needed in USA.
Its other names
Local names
Inkomba, Pondo coconut