The form of this plant found native in Australia is being referred to as Caryota albertii F.Muell. ex H.Wendl. In some recent works, including 'Dowe, J.L. (2010). Autralian palms: biogeography, ecology and systematics: 1-290. CSIRO Publishing'[].

Common Name: Albert Palm

General Information

Albert palm is an evergreen, solitary-stemmed palm tree growing up to 15 metres tall. The unbranched stem is up to 10 - 12 metres tall, topped with a rosette of leaves that can be up to 7 metres long but are more commonly 3 - 5 metres[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as food and source of materials. Plants in this genus are often grown as ornamentals[].

Known Hazards

The mesocarp (flesh of the fruit) contains irritating needle-like Calcium oxalate crystals[, ].

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, Solomon Islands.

Habitat

Lowland rainforest of varying soil types, i.e. sandy, basaltic, granitic and alluvial, on a range of aspects from flat to steep slopes. Also in semi-deciduous vine forests, broad-leaved swamp forests and brackish or fresh mangroves[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant can withstand occasional temperatures down to about -3°c[].
Prefers a position in light shade[]. Younger plants appreciate some shade, but older plants can tolerate full sun[]. A site sheltered from strong winds is preferred because the large leaves are fairly easily damaged[].
A very fast-growing palm, capable of reaching 2 metres in height in its first year of growth from seed[].
The tree is monocarpic, living for several years without flowering, but then flowering profusely and dying. In the tropics, plants can commence flowering when only 6 - 8 years old, flowering for about 2 years before dying. In the subtropics the plant will take somewhat longer to come into flower[].
Before reaching maturity, selected inflorescences are prepared for tapping by beating with a wooden stick and are then tied with a string to keep them in a proper shape. If possible, a number of inflorescences are tied together. A concoction of herbs, salt and ash may be applied to the tip of the inflorescence. Tapping begins 3 - 4 days later by making a fine angular slash. A receptacle, usually a piece of bamboo, is hung under the tapping point to catch the sap. The inflorescence is cut afresh in the morning and evening for 3 - 4 months, until none remains[].

Edible Uses

Apical bud - cooked[]. Somewhat bitter[]. Eaten as a steamed vegetable with rice, in soups, or fried with coconut milk and spices[]. Harvesting this bud effectively kills the tree since it is unable to make side shoots[].

The pith is extracted from the stem and used to make sago[]. Because the outside stem is very tough, the plant tends to get utilized for its starch mainly in times of food shortage[].

The seeds can be used as a masticatory in place of betel nut (Areca catechu)[].

We have no specific information for this species, but the inflorescence of many members of this genus (especially the taller species) is tapped and the liquid used for making sugar, alcoholic beverages etc[].
After harvest the sap may be boiled in an open pan to produce jaggery. If the sap is allowed to ferment for 12 hours it turns into a pale or cloudy wine with a rather sour taste. Fermented toddy may still be boiled down to a thick syrup and be preserved as a treacle. The treacle can be allowed to crystallize to form a sweetmeat[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaf sheath fibre ('kittul') from plants in this genus is durable and is often harvested as a source of thatch, cordage, and to make brushes and brooms[]. The fibre becomes very pliable after being steeped in linseed oil[].
The woolly hairs on the leaf sheaths, petioles and rachis can be used as tinder or as wadding. They may also be used to caulk wooden boats[].
The finer fibre can also be spun into fishing lines or coarse threads for sewing[].

The outer part of the trunk is split and made into very durable slat flooring[].

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh, it takes 1 - 3 months to germinate[]. Young plants can be placed in their permanent positions when about 1 year old, by which time they can be 150 - 200cm tall[, ].

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