Common Name: Ombrush

General Information

Hydriastele dransfieldii is a solitary stemmed evergreen palm with an unbranched stem up to 12 metres tall and 5 - 12cm in diameter; the stem is topped by a crown of 6 - 10 leaves, each 130 - 300cm long including the petiole[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as amasticatory and source of materials.
Hydriastele dransfieldii is known only from the Biak Islands in western New Guinea. It has a relatively narrow extent of occurrence, but has been observed to be common in many parts of the islands. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australasia - New Guinea (Biak Island)

Habitat

A midstorey plant, growing in lowland, primary or secondary rainforest on rocky limestone ridges and slopes, often with a very thin layer of topsoil; at elevations up to 300 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The seeds are used as a substitute for the betel nut (Areca catechu)[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are used for wrapping food[].

Propagation

Seed -

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