Swamp fan palm, Palas palm
Licuala paludosa

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm which can occurs in clumps. The trunk is about 4-6 m high. The stems are 2.5 cm wide. It has an open crown. The leaves are dark green and round. Leaves are about 50-100 cm across. They are carried on slender leaf stalks about 60 cm long. The edges of the leaf stalks have small black thorns. The leaf blade is divided into 6-10 pleated wedge shaped segments. These are toothed on the ends. The flower stalk is stout and branched. It is about 1 m long. The flowers are white and 6 mm long. The fruit are round and red and 7 mm across.

There are 108 Licuala species. They grow in Asia and Australia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It will grow in subtropical areas. It grows in wet, sandy or peaty soil. It grows from near the sea to the mountains. It needs an open sunny position and plenty of water.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Brunei, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Shoots edible and collected for sale.

Edible parts

Cabbage, pith, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Palem likuala, Palem palas

Synonyms

Licuala amplifrons Miq.; Licuala paniculata Ridley;