Stilt-Root Palm, Wild Borneo sago palm
Eugeissona utilis
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A clumping palm. It grows 12-15 m high. The trunks are 25-30 cm across. The trunks are spiny and 9 m long. It has long prop roots. The leaves are large and up to 9 m long. They are erect and arch over. The lower part of the leaf stalks is covered with sharp short spines. The leaves have many narrow leaflets crowded along the midrib, and drooping. The flowering stalk is very large. They can be 2 m long. It grows upwards from the centre of the crown and has crowded branches. Each small branch has a single large flower. The flowers are purplish-black. They are about 8-9 cm long. The fruit are oval and brown. They are 8-10 cm long and 5-6 cm wide. They have small overlapping scales.
There are 6 Eugeissona species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They need areas of high rainfall. It grows on forested ridges and low lying heath sites in Kalimantan and Sarawak. It is often on poor soils with plenty of humus. It grows in lowland rainforest and up to 750 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Malaysia (country/location of origin), Sarawak, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The starch extracted from the stem is edible. The palm heart is edible. The pollen from the flower is used as a condiment.
Sago from the stems is a major food of the Dayak Punan people of Borneo.
Edible parts
Kernels, sago, starch, fruit, nuts, palm heart, pollen, cabbage
How it is grown
Plants are easily grown from seed. They can also be grown from suckers.
Stems are ready to harvest after 5 years.
Its other names
Local names
Kadjatoa, Kajatao, Kinangan, Nanga, Palem sagu hutan borneo, Paluon, Pantu