Pinanga simplicifrons
(Miq.) Becc.
Arecaceae
Ptychosperma simplicifrons Miq.
Common Name:
General Information
Pinanga simplicifrons is a small, clump forming, evergreen palm producing several unbranched stems around 8 - 15mm in diameter and growing around 100 - 150cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of a masticatory and various materials. The plant is grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its many thin stems and beautiful undivided and bifid or occasionally sparsely pinnate leaves.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Southeast Asia - southern Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, western Indonesia
Habitat
An understorey plant in lowland rainforest.
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 1.20 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Pinanga simplicifrons is a plant of the humid tropics, where it is found at low elevations.
Species in this genus generally require a warm, sheltered position with at least moderate shade, especially when young. They grow best in a circumneutral, moist but well-drained soil and strongly dislike dry conditions[
974- Title
- Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahmed Fayaz
- Publisher
- Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
- 978-1-55407-489
- Description
- A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
].
Edible Uses
The seeds are sometimes chewed as a substitute for betel nut (Areca catechu)[
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")
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The leaves are used for thatching[
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")
].
The tough outer portions of the stems are used as laths[
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")
].
Propagation
Seed -
Division of new growths at the base
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
