Wight's sago palm
Arenga wightii

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A clump forming palm. It grows 6 m tall. There are a few crowded, black, fibrous trunks. The crown has arching leaves. The leaves are 2-3 m long. The leaves have long, narrow, leaflets. There are small teeth and lobes along the edges of the leaflets. The leaflets are 30 cm long and 5 cm wide. The leaflets are white or silvery underneath. The leaflets spread out in a flat layer each side of the stalk. The fruit are blackish and round. They are 2 cm across and contain 3 seeds.

There are 17-20 Arenga species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu. It needs to grow in a sheltered position.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, India (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The sap is tapped from the fruit stalk. The fruit is chewed as a substitute for betel nut. The pith is sweetish and edible.

Edible parts

Sap, fruit, starch, palm heart

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alam panei, Alathil thenga, Dhadashi, Dhudasal, Kottukamugu, Netipankumpu

Synonyms

Saguerus wightii