Nungu Fruit

Nungu Fruit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Nungu_Fruit".

content

Asian Palmyra Palm

Borassus flabellifer

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Arecales
Family:	Arecaceae
Genus:	Borassus L.
Species:	B. flabellifer

Binomial name

Borassus flabellifer
...

Borassus flabellifer, the Asian palmyra palm, Toddy palm, Sugar palm, Cambodian palm, is robust and can live 100 years or more and reach a height of 30 m, with a canopy of leaves several dozen fronds spreading 3 meters across. The large trunk resembles that of the coconut tree and is ringed with leaf scars. Young Palmyra palms grow slowly in the beginning, but growth speeds up after. Its growth pattern, large size and clean habits make it an attractive landscape species.

Crown

1 Cultivation and uses
2 Cultural symbolism
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

Cultivation and uses

Fruit

Edible jelly seeds of palmyra palm, Guntur, India

It is known as Tal in Bengali, Nungu in Tamil, Thaati Munjalu in Telugu, Munjal in Urdu, Tnaot by the Khmer, Akadiru by the East Timorese, Tao in Divehi, Tadfali or Tad-fali or Taadfali in Gujarati, and sometimes "Ice-apple" by the British. The fruit measures 4 to 7 inches in diameter, has a black husk, and is borne in clusters. The top portion of the fruit must be cut off to reveal the three sweet jelly seed sockets, translucent pale-white, similar to that of the lychee but the flavor is milder and there is no pit. The jelly part of the fruit is covered with a thin yellowish brown skin.

The ripened fibrous outer layer of the palm fruits can also be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted.

A sugary sap, called Toddy, can be obtained from the young inflorescence either male or female ones. Toddy is fermented to make a beverage called arrack, or it is concentrated to a crude sugar called jaggery. It is called Gula Jawa (Javanese sugar) in Indonesia and is widely used in the Javanese cuisine. In addition, the tree sap is taken as a laxative, and medicinal values have been ascribed to other parts of the plant.

Sprouts

In Tamil Nadu and Jaffna, India, the seeds are planted and made to germinate and the fleshy stems (below the surface) are boiled and eaten. It is very fibrous and nutritious, known as "Panai Kizhangu" or "Panamkizhangu" in Tamil.

The germinated seed's hard shell is also cut open to take out the crunchy kernel which tastes like a sweeter Water Chestnut. It is called "dhavanai" in Tamil.

Leaves

Asian Palmyra Palm in Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The leaves are used for thatching, mats, baskets, fans, hats, umbrellas, and as writing material.

In Indonesia the leaves were used in the ancient culture as paper, known as "lontar". Leaves of suitable size, shape, texture, and maturity are chosen and then seasoned by boiling in salt water with turmeric powder, as a preservative. The leaves are then dried. When they are dry enough, the face of the leaf is polished with pumice, cut into the proper size, and a hole is made in one corner. Each leaf will make four pages. The writing is done with a stylus and has a very cursive and interconnected style. The leaves are then tied up as sheaves.

Trunk

The stalks are used to make fences and also produce a strong, wiry fiber suitable for cordage and brushes. The black timber is hard, heavy, and durable and is highly valued for construction.

The young plants are cooked as a vegetable or roasted and pounded to make meal.

Crown

When the crown of the tree is removed, the segment from which the leaves grow out is an edible cake. This is called pananchoru in Tamil.

Gallery

Sugar Palm in Angkor Wat, Cambodia	Sugar Palm in Angkor Wat, Cambodia	Monsoon season in Kampong Speu Province with Sugar palm
	Bird nest on Asian palmyra palm	A view of the characteristic fruit on the tree	Bird nest and fruit on Asian palmyra palm
	Trunk

Cultural symbolism

The Palmyra tree is the official tree of Tamil Nadu. Highly respected in Tamil culture, it is called "karpaha" or celestial tree because all its parts without exception have a use. The Palmyra palm is a natural symbol tree of Cambodia, it grow near the Angkor temple and grows all over the country.¹.

It is also very common in Thailand, especially in the northeast or Isaan province where it is an ubiquitous part of the landscape.