Talipot Palm

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Description

Solitary fan-leafed palm to 25 m tall, diameter 60-90 cm. Leaf blades are massive, 5-6 m wide supported by equally massive petiole of 3 m or more long. The species is hapaxanthic, producing the largest inflorescence in the plant kingdom on maturity. Flowering and fruiting occurs in a single event producing an enormous panicle c. 6-8 m long with cream-coloured, plume-like flowering branches. The plant produces thousands of globose yellow-green fruits 3-4 cm diameter.

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Ecology

Mostly cultivated in the lowlands.

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Distribution

It is widely cultivated in South India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Its origin is uncertain but likely in monsoonal region of South India and Sri Lanka.

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Uses

Historically the leaves were written upon to create palm leaf manuscripts in Southeast Asia. The enormous leaves are used as thatch.