Palmyra palm

Palmyra palm, Toddy palm

Scientific name: Borassus flabellifer L.

Local/ Bangla name: ‘Tal’

Taxonomic position According to Cronquist (1981)

 Botanical Description of Palmyra Palm

Habit: A solitary stout erect, unbranched palm up to 30 m long

Root: Fibrous root system

Leaf: Fan shaped, coriaceous, segments 60-80 cm, extension of the petiole protrudes as the rib well into the center of the blade

Flower: Male and female flowers borne into separate tree i.e. dioecious

Inflorescence: Female inflorescence a sparingly branched spadix having spathe. Male inflorescence a simple branched spadix.

Flower: Female flowers globose, green, carpel 3-4, stigma 3, sessile. Male flowers small, stamen 6, anthers sub-sessile.

Fruit: Drupe

Figure: Fruit

Figure: Seeds 

Chromosome number: 2n=36

Economic Importance: Juice obtained from male inflorescence provide a pleasant drink. Young fruits supply jelly-like contents and ripe fruits are eaten as raw.