Jaggary Palm, Toddy Palm, Fishtail Wine Palm

Caryota urens

Physical Characteristics

Caryota urens is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Sap Stem Edible Uses: Drink Sweetener Edible portion: Sap, Starch, Cabbage, Sago, Palm heart. The sap extracted from the inflorescence of the plant is used to make sugar and alcoholic beverages[ 46 , 297 ]. A primary product of the plant in rural communities is the sugar substitute called kitul honey or jaggary obtained from the juice from the flowers (should this read sap?[ K ]). This is concentrated in large, wide-mouthed vessels on an open fire to prepare a viscous, golden syrup with a delicious flavour. The sap can be further concentrated to give kitul jaggary (candy)[ 303 ]. Sap collected from the inflorescence is fermented with a crude, mixed inoculum of yeast to obtain toddy. This beverage can be distilled, as is coconut toddy, to prepare a more concentrated spirit[ 303 ]. A starch obtained from the stems is used to make sago[ 46 , 266 , 297 , 317 ]. Leaves - cooked[ 301 ]. The very young unfolding leaves and leaf bud are used as a vegetable[ 46 , 266 , 301 ]. Harvesting this terminal bud effectively kills the tree since it is unable to make side shoots and so cannot produce new growth[ K ]. The stem pith is boiled, mixed with rice and cooked. The palm heart is edible.

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic Mouthwash Skin A porridge prepared from the seed flour is prescribed by local physicians to treat gastric ulcers, migraine headaches, snake-bite poisoning and rheumatic swellings[ 303 ]. The root is used for treating tooth ailments[ 303 ]. The bark and seed are used to treat boils[ 303 ]. The tender flowers are used for promoting hair growth[ 303 ].

Known Hazards

The fruit is capable of irritating the skin and causing a burning sensation[ 287 ].