Phoenix_sylvestris

<i>Phoenix sylvestris</i>

Phoenix sylvestris

Species of flowering plant in the palm family Arecaceae

Phoenix sylvestris (sylvestris - Latin, of the forest) also known as silver date palm, Indian date, sugar date palm or wild date palm,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the palm family native to southern Pakistan, most of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It has been introduced to southeastern China, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands.[1] Growing in plains and scrubland up to 1300 m above sea level, the fruit from this palm species is used to make wine and jelly. The sap is tapped and drunk fresh or fermented into toddy. The fresh sap is boiled to make palm jaggery in West Bengal state of India and Bangladesh.

Preparing to collect sap at Jessore, Bangladesh

Quick Facts Phoenix sylvestris, Scientific classification ...

Description

Phoenix sylvestris ranges from 4 to 15 m in height and 40 cm in diameter; not as large as the Canary Island Date Palm, but nearly so, and resembling it. The leaves are 3 m long, gently recurved, on 1 m petioles with acanthophylls near the base. The leaf crown grows to 10 m wide and 7.5 to 10 m tall containing up to 100 leaves. The inflorescence grows to 1 metre with white, unisexual flowers forming to a large, pendent infructescence. The single-seeded fruit ripens to a purple-red colour.[3]

References

  1. [1]
    "Phoenix sylvestris". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. [2]
    "Phoenix sylvestris". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. [3]
    Riffle, Robert L. and Craft, Paul (2003) An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Portland: Timber Press. (Pages 405-406) ISBN 0-88192-558-6 / ISBN 978-0-88192-558-6
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