Tamepalm
Pinanga geonomiformis
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A very small and slender palm with fan shaped leaves. It forms a neat suckering clump. The stems are thin. They are 1.5 m tall. They are purple and like a thick stemmed grass. The fronds are small and bright green. There are only one or two segments on each side of the leaf stalk. The flower stalk is a simple flower cluster along a central stalk. The fruit are in two vertical rows.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They occur from Rizal, Laguna and Quezon in the Philippines in damp primary forest at low and medium altitudes. It suits tropical regions. It needs a moist shady position.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The bud is cooked and eaten.
Edible parts
Cabbage, palm heart
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Seed may take 5 months to germinate.