Food Plants International

192
Names
English: Black Palm Scientific name: Normanbya normanbyi (W.Hill.) I.H.Bailey
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Ptychosperma normanbyi
Tok ples: Plant family: Arecaceae
Description: A tall solitary palm. It grows about 20 m
high. The trunk is light grey and 10-15 cm across. It
has distinct rings. The crownshaft is mealy white. The
crown is round and made up of 9-12 arching fronds. It
is a feather leafed palm with leaflets in a radiating
arrangement. The leaves are 2-2.5 cm long. The
leaflets are dark green above and white underneath.
The leaflets are wedge shaped. The flowering stalk
arises below the crownshaft. They are 50 cm long.
Flowers are of one sex but both sexes occur on the one
stalk. Single plants can produce fertile seed. The fruit
are 4-5 cm long by 3 cm across. The fruit are deep pink
to red. Each fruit contains one seed.
Distribution: They grow in tropical and subtropical
locations. It grows naturally in rainforests often near
swamps in NE Queensland. It needs warm, humid
conditions. Plants are damaged by frosts. They are
sensitive to sunburn from the first 3-5 years.
Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Seeds germinate sporadically. Seeds take 2-3 months
to germinate with some taking 12 months. Seedlings transplant easily.
Production: It grows quickly.
Use: The growing point of palm cabbage is eaten.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible
part
Cabbage
Insects:
Diseases:
Pests:
Importance:
Moisture
%
Energy
KJ
Protein
g
Calcium
mg
Iron
mg
proVit A
µg
proVit C
mg
Zinc
mg