Palmyra Palm

It is widely cultivated for its many uses and especially for its fruits that are eaten raw and locally called ‘toddy’. The leaves have been used as a paper to write in ancient India and Indonesia; and are currently used in creating fans, hats, umbrellas and mats.

It is native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and New Guinea. The Palmyra tree is revered in India as all its parts can be used. It is the official tree of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. The Palakkad District in the Indian state of Kerala is well known as the land of Palmyra trees.