East African Doum Palm

Description:

Palm tree that branches. I had never seen a branched palm tree before. This is (as I read up later) the Doum palm which, unlike almost all other palms, is able to form branches.

Habitat:

Botanical Garden, Kolkata

Notes:

Like most palms all parts are used; starting from the sap that is fermented to make a mildly alcoholic drink, to juice from young fruits that is drunk like coconut milk to leaves being used as thatching material and ultimately; the fruit that is considered to be good to kill intestinal worms. Seed is described a vegetable ivory ...a good idea if souvenir hunters like it!