Princess palm, Hurricane palm, Red palm
Dictyosperma alba

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

It is a tall slender palm. It has a dark grey, ringed trunk. It grows 10-20 m high. The trunk is expanded at the base. The trunk is 10 cm across. The crown-shaft is bright green, whitish or red. It is often softly woolly. The fronds can be 3 m long. The fronds have leaflets along the stalk. They are often reddish when young. The youngest developing frond stands erect. The leaflets taper to a point. They bare often divided into 2 thin points. The flowering stalk arises below the crown-shaft. It is 40-100 cm long with many branches. The flowers are large and fragrant. They are cream or reddish. The flowers are in groups of 3 with one female between 2 male flowers. The fruit are oval and purplish-black. They are 16-18 mm long and 8-10 mm across. They occur in large clusters. Some named varieties occur.

There is only one Dictyosperma species. This plant is almost extinct in the wild.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It is cold sensitive. It can tolerate salt-laden winds. It needs well drained rich soil. It needs a warm sunny position. It cannot tolerate drought. It grows in lowlands and up to 600 m above sea level. In Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Guam, Hawaii, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Mauritius (country/location of origin), North America, Pacific, Reunion, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The palm heart is eaten.

It is cultivated in Mauritius for palm hearts.

Edible parts

Cabbage, palm heart, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate in 2-3 months.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Areca alba Bory; Dictyospermum rubrum I.B. Balfour; Dictyospermum album var. rubrum; Dictyopsermum album var. furfuraceum;