Solomon’s sago
Metroxylon salomonense

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A sago palm. It is a solitary palm with no suckers at the base. It can grow 17 m high. The trunk can be 1.3 m across. The crown is graceful with arching fronds. There can be spines on older palms. The leaves are long with wide leaflets along the stalk. They are dark green. The flower is produce at the top of the palm. The flower is very large and takes 15-20 months for the flower to fully develop and produce seeds. The flower arrangement has branches which are spreading and drooping. The seeds are large (10 cm across). They are scaly and straw coloured. After another 2 years the palm gradually dies.

There are 8 Metroxylon species. This palm has very large leaves which provide excellent thatch for house rooves. The seeds were also sold as “ivory nuts” for button manufacture.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in North Solomons Province of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It grows in less swampy sites than sago. It needs fertile soils. It can grow up to 880 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Bougainville, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

The starch is extracted from the trunk and eaten cooked. The palm cabbage is edible.

In Papua New Guinea the sago starch is used as a reserve food and for special functions.

Edible parts

Pith starch, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Time to maturity is 12-15 years. The palm is felled, the outer hull stripped off then the pith pounded and the starch extracted by washing in water and letting the starch settle out. Four men can cut, process and collect the starch from one palm in 4-5 hours. When a team do this work it is allocated amongst cutters, shredders, washers and packers.

Its other names

Local names

Ao'o, Atava, Ato, Atovo, Edeve, Endeve, Hapiri, Kalovo, Karama, Karamava, Karmo, Katua, Katuva, Kinenda, Lao, Name, Naota, Nat, Natho, Nggoe, Nive, Nungona’a, Pina, Rao, Sao, Tete-na, Thao, Wanda

Synonyms

Coelococcus salomonensis Warburg; Metroxylon bougainvillense Becc.;