Wrinkled fruit palm
Ptychococcus paradoxus
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A solitary palm. They do not have thorns. The stems are 15 m tall and 25 cm across. The leaves are feathery. They are dark green and spreading with leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are regularly arranged and narrow. They have a long crown-shaft. The flowering stalk comes from below the crown-shaft. The flowers are of one sex but both sexes occur on the one plant. The flowers are yellow. The fruit is black and 1.2 cm across. Each fruit contains a single seed.
There are 2-7 Ptychococcus species. They are in Papua New Guinea and the Solomons.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They grow as understorey plants in lowland rainforests and along streams. They need good drainage.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea (country/location of origin), SE Asia, Solomon Islands
How it is used for food
The embryo of the young fruit is eaten.
Edible parts
Seeds, shoots, cabbage, palm heart
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Fresh seed take about 3 months to germinate.
Its other names
Local names
Nium, Palem buah keriput