Arenga (Sturtevant, 1919)

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Arenaria
Sturtevant, Notes on edible plants, 1919
Arenga (Sturtevant, 1919)
Argania


Arenga saccharifera

Arenga saccharifera Labill. Palmae. ARENG PALM. Tropical eastern Asia. This palm has been called the most useful of all palms. Griffith [1] says, the young albumen preserved in sugar forms one of the well-known preserves of the Straits. Brandis [2] says, the heart of the stem contains large quantities of sago, and the cut flower-stalks yield a sugary sap of which sugar and palm-wine are made. Graham [3] says, at Bombay this palm affords tolerably good sago and the sap, palm-wine and sugar. Seemann [4] says, the bud, or cabbage, is eaten. The sap, of which some three quarts a day are collected, furnishes toddy and from this toddy, jaggery sugar is prepared. The seed, freed from its noxious covering, is made into a sweetmeat by the Chinese. From the pith, a species of sago is prepared which, however, has a peculiar flavor.

  1. Griffith, W. Palms Brit. Ind. 164. 1850.
  2. Brandis, D. Forest Fl. 551. 1874.
  3. Pickering, C. Chron. Hist. Pls. 335. 1879.
  4. Seemann, B. Pop. Hist. Palms 64, 67. 1856.