Talipot palm, Great fan palm
Corypha umbraculifera

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

It is a solitary palm. It is very large. It grows to 25 m high. The trunk is 60-90 cm across. The leaves have leaf segments spread out like fingers on a hand. The leaf stalk continues into the leaf. Individual leaves can be 5 m across. The leaves are bright green and carried on a large leaf stalk. This can be 4 m long. The leaf stalk has many small teeth along the edge. The younger parts of the trunk are covered with the remains of the leaf bases. It only flowers once then dies. The flower panicle at the end of the plant which can be 6 m high. It has millions of tiny cream flowers. The fruit are dull green and round. They are 3-5 cm across. The plant grows for 30-80 years and reaches 12-25 m high before flowering.

There are 8 Corypha species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Once established plants can tolerate considerable dryness. It grows best in tropical zones. It can grow on most soils but needs good drainage. In Sri Lanka it grows below 800 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, South America, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Starch is extracted from the stem. This needs to be done before flowering. The sap is used to make fermented drinks. The palm cabbage is edible. It needs to be cut before flowering as it later becomes bitter.

Edible parts

Kernels, starch, sap, cabbage, sago, nuts, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Plants are very slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Bajar-battuler, Bajarbattu, Buri palm, Dridhatalamu, Gebang palm, Gewang, Karalika, Khai, Kudaippanai, Kudappana, La:n, Laang-mueng-theong, Lan, Latanier, Palem gebang, Pe-bin, Pu ti gen, Sritalam, Sritalamu, Sritale, Tala gas, Tali-pannai, Tali, Talippana, Tarit, Thalapanai, Tuli

Synonyms

Bessia sanguinolenta Raf.;