Gingerbread palm, Northern lala palm
A tropical plant. It grows in the coastal regions of East Africa. In Kenya it grows from sea level to 300 m altitude. It grows along stream banks and in low lying areas. It is usually in areas with a high water table. It suits temperate regions as well as the tropics. It requires well drained soil in a sunny position. It can grow on sand dunes. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Adelaide Botanical Gardens. In Townsville Queens BG.
Also known as:
Babangy, East African Doum Palm, Fan palm, Gingerbread tree, Hala palm, Ilala palm, Lilala, Lokoko, Mkoma pasi, Mrara, Muchevo, Mulala, Mutshema, Mwaa, N'tchea, Nnala, Palem satrana, Satrana
Synonyms
- Chamaeriphes coriacea (Gaertn.) Kuntze
- Chamaeriphes shatan (Bojer ex Dammer) Kuntze
- Chamaeriphes turbinata (H. Wendl.) Kuntze
- Corypha africana Lour.
- Hyphaene baronii Becc.
- Hyphaene beccariana Furtado
- Hyphaene hildebrandtii Becc.
- Hyphaene natalensis Kuntze
- Hyphaene oblonga Becc.
- Hyphaene parvula Becc.
- Hyphaene pileata Becc.
- Hyphaene pleuropoda Becc.
- Hyphaene pyrifera Becc.
- Hyphaene pyrifera var. arenicola Becc.
- Hyphaene pyrifera var. margaritensis Becc.
- Hyphaene shatan Bojer ex Dammer
- Hyphaene schatan var. hildebrandtii Boj.
- Hyphaene spaerulifera Becc.
- Hyphaene spaerulifera var. gosciaensis Becc.
- Hyphaene tetragonoides Furtado
- Hyphaene turbinata H. Wendl.
- Hyphaene wendlandii Dammer
Edible Portion
- Fruit pulp, Palm heart, Sap, Nuts, Vegetable
Where does Gingerbread palm grow?
Found in: Africa, Asia, Australia, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mayotte, Mozambique, SE Asia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, United States, Zimbabwe
Notes: There are about 9 or 10 Hyphaene species. (Some authorities estimate 40).
Status: There are about 14 million palms in the Natal area. A significant fruit tree in Mozambique.
Growing Gingerbread palm, Northern lala palm
Cultivation: Plants are grown from seeds. The fleshy layer is removed. Seeds are slow to germinate and breaking the hard seed coat helps germination.
Edible Uses: The pulp of the fruit is eaten. It is also used to make wine. The palm heart is used as a vegetable. The sap is tapped to make an alcoholic drink. This is called ilala wine or busulu wine. (The tapping method kills the tree). Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The fibrous layer around the nut is eaten. The kernel of the nut is eaten. The milk from the seed is eaten. The shoots of the germinating seed are eaten as a vegetable.
Production: A palm of average size produces 68 litres of sap. Fruit are collected during the dry season.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Gingerbread palm, Northern lala palm Photos
References
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