Borassus ethiopium, Mart. Chad (central), Sudan (central and south, especially southern Darfur and southern Kordofan): fruit (drupe) eaten by sucking the juicy fibres. It is described as tasting acid and bitter. The hypocotyl, which appears about two months after the seeds are sown, is harvested, being very starchy, and is considered of great value in times of famine. Chemical composition: Protein (crude) = 2.8% (dry). Fat = 0.5% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 3.5% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 16.8% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 9.3g. Threonine = 3.6g. Serine = 3.9g. Glutamic acid = 8.9g. Proline = 5.0g. Glycine = 5.0g. Alanine = 5.0g. Valine = 5.0g. Cysteine = 0.1g. Methionine = 1.2g. Isoleucine = 3.6g. Leucine = 6.1g. Tyrosine = 2.8g. Phenylalanine = 3.6g. Lysine = 3.9g. Histidine = 2.1g. Arginine = 2.4g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.04% (dry). Potassium = 0.09% (dry). Magnesium = 0.10% (dry). Calcium = 0.08% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). Zinc = 4mg/kg (dry). Iron = 488mg/kg (dry). Manganese = 8mg/kg (dry). Copper = 2mg/kg (dry). Vernacular names - Arabic: Delep<, Daleib, Ron. English: African Fan Palm. Ref. ABDELMUTI, CRÉAC'H.
Borassus flabelliformis, Murr. (syn. Borassus flabellifer, L.) India (Madras Presidency): fruits, leaf-buds (or 'cabbage') and fusiform roots eaten; (Bombay Presidency): roots eaten; (Rajasthan): fusiform roots, fruits and leaf buds eaten. A cooling drink, Neera, is made from the fresh sap of the plant. Vernacular names - Bombay Presidency: Tad, Tad -mar. Tamil: Pannei. Telugu: Karatalamu, Tatichettu. Ref. GAMMIE; GUPTA & KANODIA, SHORTT, WATT.
Caryota urens, Willd. India: farinaceous portion of trunk eaten. Ref. WATT.
Chamærops humilis, L. Tunisia: the central bud is eaten raw. It is sometimes used as a garnish for couscous, together with dried raisins and dates. Vernacular name - Arabic: Djoumar. Ref. BOUQUET.
Cocos comosa, Hart. Brazil (northeast): fruit eaten. Chemical composition: Moisture = 3.50%. Ether extract = 67.30%. Protein = 8.77%. Minerals = 1.64%. Fibre (crude etc.) [sic] = 18.79% Ash: SiO2 = trace. CaO = 9.5%. Fe2O3 = negative. Saponification index: 263.3. Acid index: Oleic = 1%. Iodine index = 5.9%. Melting point = 20°-21°C. Vernacular name - Coco catolé. Ref. DE CASTRO.
Corypha umbraculifera, L.; Jacq. India: pith yields starch. Ref. WATT.
Hyphæne thebaica, Mart. Sudan (western): kernels crushed and mixed with porridge. Chad (central) : fruit eaten. Nigeria (Kano State, northern): fruit rind eaten, especially in arid zone. Chemical composition (per 100g )(leaves): Protein = 2.3g. Fat = 0.4g. Calcium = 210mg. Kcal = 43; (nut, dried): Protein = 3.9g. Fat = 6.4g. Calcium = 144mg. Kcal = 395; (flour): Protein = 2.6g. Fat = 0.4g. Calcium = 68mg. Iron = 20mg. Vitamin B1 = .05mg. Vitamin B2 = .10mg. Niacin = 3.4mg. Kcal = 296; (nut, green: outer, edible portion): Protein = 1.4%. Fat - 0.1%. Carbohydrate = 13.6%. Fibre (crude) = 5.4%. Ash = 1.5%. CaO = 0.05%. P2O5 = 0.13%. Moisture = 78.0%. Kcal = 62; (nut, green: kernels and fluid): Protein = 1.9%. Fat = 0.2%. Carbohydrate = 19.8%. Fibre (crude) = 1.4%. Ash = 0.7%. CaO = 0.07%. P2O5 = 0.03%. Moisture = 76.0%. Kcal = 91; (nut, mature; edible portion): Protein = 2.8%. Fat = 0.4%. Carbohydrate = 74.7%. Fibre (crude) = 11.0%. Ash = 5.4%. CaO = 0.17%. P205 = 0.39%. Moisture = 5.7%. Kcal - 321. Chemical composition, after Abdelmuti) Protein (crude) = 1.7% (dry). Fat = 0.5% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 1.9% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 7.3% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 6.8g. Threonine = 2.7g. Serine = 3.7g. Glutamic acid = 9.0g. Proline = 3.8g. Glycine = 5.3g. Alanine = 4.0g. Valine = 4.0g. Cysteine = 1.2g. Methionine = 1.5g. Isoleucine = 4.0g. Leucine = 5.3g. Tyrosine = 2.2g. Phenylalanine = 3.7g. Lysine = 2.8g. Histidine = 1.5g. Arginine = 4.3g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.30% (dry). Potassium = 0.14% (dry). Magnesium = 0.28% (dry). Calcium = 0.13% (dry). Na = 0.09% (dry). K = 3.02% (dry). Zinc = 11mg/kg (dry). Iron = 17mg/kg (dry). Manganese = 11mg/kg (dry). Copper = 25mg/kg (dry). Vernacular names - Arabic: Na, Dom<, Doum, Doum Palm. Hausa: Goriba. Kanuri: Karjim. English: Gingerbread Palm. Ref. ABDELMUTI, BERRY-KOCH, CRÉAC'H; HENRY & GRINDLEY (1954).
Licuala Muelleri, H. Wendl. & Drude. Australia (North Queensland): base of growing shoot eaten. Ref. IRVINE.
Livistona australis, Thell. (syn. Livistona inermis, R. Br.; Corypha australis, R. Br.). Australia (Victoria, Queensland): central portion of tree eaten. It is reported that large quantities are indigestible. Vernacular names - Cabbage Tree, Kondo. Ref. MAIDEN.
Phoenix farinifera, Buch.-Ham.; Roxb. India (Madras Presidency): farinaceous substance in trunk, leaf-bud or 'cabbage,' and ripe fruit eaten. Vernacular names - Tamil: Ethee. Telugu: Chiruta-ita. Ref. SHORTT, WATT.
Phoenix sylvestris, Roxb.; Thw. India (Bombay Presidency): leaf buds and inner stems eaten; (Deccan): fruit eaten. Vernacular name - Bombay Presidency (area unspecified): Kajuri. India (Madras Presidency): leaf-bud, or 'cabbage,' and ripe fruit eaten; (Western Rajasthan): leaf-bud, inner part of stem eaten; ripe fruit eaten raw. Various preparations made from fruit pulp. Soil types favored by plant: often found near the water source on sandy soils. Vernacular names - Tamil: Ethum pannay. Telugu: Ita chettu. Western Rajasthan: Khajoor. Ref. GAMMIE, GUPTA & KANODIA, SAXENA, SHORTT, WATT.
Washingtonia filifera, Wendl. North America (United States, southwestern area): stem pith eaten by unidentified Native american group. Vernacular name: Desert Palm. Ref. CORNETT, MINNIS.