Satake palm
Satakentia liukiuensis
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A solitary palm. It looks a little like a coconut and is clean cut and neat. It does not have thorns. It grows about 10-20 m tall. The trunk is 20-30 cm across. The crown is spreading. The leaves are feather like and deep green. They are 2.6-3.1 m long. It has a prominent crown-shaft. The leaflets are 60 cm long. The flowering stalk arises below the crown-shaft. The flowering stalks are pink to purple. Flowers are of one sex but both sexes occur in the same plant. The fruit are small and 6-7 mm across. They are black when ripe. Single plants can produce fertile seed.
There is only one Satakentia species.
Where it is found
It suits the warm subtropics. It is sensitive to cold. It grows on the slopes of low hills.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Hawaii, Indonesia, Japan, Pacific, Ryuku Islands (country/location of origin), North America, SE Asia, Singapore, USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Cabbage, palm heart
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Fresh seed germinate in about 3 months.
Its other names
Local names
Palem satake