Gronophyllum ramsayi
(Becc.) Moore
Northern Kentia palm, Alexander palm
What to Eat
Edible parts: Growing tip, Cabbage, Palm heart, Starch, Sap
The central growing tip is eaten raw or cooked. The cabbage (palm heart), starch, and sap are also edible.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in open forest in deep sandy soil. It needs well-drained soil. Plants are sensitive to fertiliser. They are very cold sensitive. They suit the seasonally dry tropics.
Australia*,
How to Identify
A large single-stemmed palm. It grows 15-30 m tall. The trunk is 20-35 cm across. The leaves are strongly curved fronds. These are divided into many leaflets which taper to the end. They are directed inwards in a V shape. They are 30-90 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The stalk is about 40-80 cm long. The flowers are separately male and female. They are 0.6 cm across and hang on long hanging flower stalks. These are 30-50 cm long and hang below the crown. The fruit are oblong and shiny red. They are 1.2-1.5 cm long by 0.7 cm wide. They have thin oily flesh and a single hard-shelled seed.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seed. The seed germinate over 6-12 months or longer. Seedlings transplant easily.
Medicinal Uses
The growing tip is traditionally eaten and is popular and enjoyed.
Production
It is a slow growing palm.
Other Information
The growing tip is popular and enjoyed.
Notes
There are 14 (33?) Gronophyllum species.
References (15)
- Blomberry, A. & Rodd, T., 1982, Palms. An informative practical guide. Angus & Robertson. p 102
- Brock, J., 1993, Native Plants of Northern Australia, Reed. p 211
- Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 200
- Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 207
- Cronin, L., 2000, Australian Palms, Ferns, Cycads and Pandans. Cronin Publications. p 20
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1990, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 5. Lothian. p 161
- Hardwick, G., 2001, Economically Useful Plants for Northern Australia: Master Species List. Crusader eBooks.
- Hearne, D.A., & Rance, S.J., 1975, Trees for Darwin and Northern Australia. AGPS, Canberra p 75
- Isaacs, J., 1987, Bush Food, Aboriginal Food and Herbal Medicine. Weldons. p 126
- Jones, D.L., 1994, Palms throughout the World. Smithtonian Institution, Washington. p 57, 218
- Jones, D.L., 2000, Palms of Australia 3rd edition. Reed/New Holland. p 85
- Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 125
- Riffle, R.L. & Craft, P., 2003, An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press. p 343
- Tiwi Plants and Animals. 2001, Aboriginal flora and fauna knowledge from Bathurst and Melville Islands, northern Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin; No. 24 p 57
- Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 242
