Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Borassodendron machadonis (Ridl.) Becc. (ARECACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019

Description

Solitary fan-leafed palm to 15 m tall, c. 30 cm diameter. Leaf sheath persistent in young palms but shedding off cleanly in older individuals leaving behind leaf scars on the nodes. Leaf blades orbicular, c. 3 m across with green petioles 4 m long with sharp knife edges. Species is dioecious. Male bearing long orange inflorescence branches with creamy yellow flowers. Infructescence bearing tightly clusters of blueish green globular fruits; fruits c. 8-9 cm across.


Ecology

Often in lowland forests and forests adjacent to the base of limestone hills.

Distribution

Peninsular Thailand and northern Peninsular Malaysia.

Uses

Hardly planted as an ornamental but would make an attractive ornamental.