Sugar Palm, Gomuti Palm


Scientific Name: Arenga pinnata (Wurmb) Merrill
Synonyms: Arenga saccharifera
Arenga pinnata
Size: Up to 60 feet (18 m)
Min. Temperature: 28°F (-2°C)
Water Requirements: Regular water
Sun Requirements: Full sun to light shade
Origin: India, southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia
Leaf: Pinnate, 20 to 25 leaves, very dark green top, silvery bottom, erect, up to 12 meters long.
Trunk: Covered with black fibers and spines. 15 to 20 inches in diameter (40 to 50 cm).
Flower: Showy yellow flowers. As most of the Caryotas and Arengas, after the tree finishes blooming, it dies. Flower stalk coming from among the leaves, much longer than the leaves.
Fruit: Purple. 1.5 inches in diameter (4 cm). round to oval, containing generally 3 seeds, takes over one year to ripen.
Seed:

Arengas are a group of 17 species. The fruit pulp and juice is caustic. Don't handle it without gloves

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