Xila, Marimiipa
Itaya amicorum
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A palm. It has a single stem. It grows 4 m high and the trunk is 9-10 cm across. The leaves form a wide crown. The leaf stalks are long. The blade is round. It is about 2 m across. It is split to the base into 10-16 equally broad leaflets. The leaves are silvery grey and white underneath. The flowering stalk has several flowering branches. These can be 10 cm long. The fruit are almost round.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows as an understory plant. It grows in wet areas along rivers in the Amazon. It grows below 300 m altitude. In Townsville Palmetum.
Countries/locations it is found in
Amazon, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, South America
How it is used for food
Salt is extracted from the burnt stems.
Edible parts
Ash - salt, fruit