Loxococcus rupicola
(Thwaites) H.Wendl. & Drude
Arecaceae
Ptychosperma rupicola Thwaites
Common Name:
General Information
Loxococcus rupicola is a solitary stemmed, evergreen palm with an unbranched stem up to 12 metres tall and 12cm in diameter; this is topped by a crown of leaves each up to 250cm long[
1968- Title
- Palms of Southern Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press, New York
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-0-691-13449-9
- Description
- An excellent concise guide
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is grown as an ornamental, but only from seed obtained from registered sources
Loxococcus rupicolaThe plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(1998)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
464- Title
- A Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon
- Publication
-
- Author
- Trimen H.; continued by Hooker J.D.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Dulau and Co; London.
- Year
- 1898
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very dated, but still a useful work. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
1968- Title
- Palms of Southern Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press, New York
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-0-691-13449-9
- Description
- An excellent concise guide
Range
E. Asia - southwest Sri Lanka
Habitat
Moist closed forest; at elevations from 300 - 742 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Lowland or montane rain forest, often on steep, rocky slopes; at elevations from 300 - 1,500 metres[
1968- Title
- Palms of Southern Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press, New York
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-0-691-13449-9
- Description
- An excellent concise guide
]
Properties
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 10.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Loxococcus rupicola is a native of the humid tropics, growing in a region of Sri Lanka that experiences rain almost every nght.
Plants appear to like growing in constantly wet soils that are also well drained - the more friable and loamy the sand the better! It might not like waterlogged soils! It can grow at low elevations but demands shade and humid conditions to keep healthy.
Edible Uses
The seeds are used as a substitute for betel nut (Areca catechu)[
1968- Title
- Palms of Southern Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press, New York
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-0-691-13449-9
- Description
- An excellent concise guide
]. The reddish brown, globose fruits are up to 25mm in diameter[
1968- Title
- Palms of Southern Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press, New York
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-0-691-13449-9
- Description
- An excellent concise guide
].
The palm heart (the inner core and growing bud of the plant) is harvested[
347- Title
- Tropical Palms
- Publication
- Non-Wood Forest Products No. 10
- Author
- Johnson D.V.
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/docrep/
- Publisher
- FAO, Rome
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-92-5-106742-0
- Description
- A terse guide to some of the uses of palms. Also available for download from the web. (Search for "FAO Tropical Palms")
]. It provides a crispy food, rich in nutrients, that can be eaten raw or cooked. Harvesting the heart will lead to the death of the plant since it is unable to produce new shoots[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
