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Common Name: Mazari Palm

General Information

Nannorrhops ritchiana is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 5.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

W. Asia - Iran to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Habitat

Open, sparsely vegetated semi-arid desert regions where there is a water table close enough to the surface to provide a continuous supply of moisture[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Little is known about this species cultural requirements, but it probably succeeds in most fertile moist but well-drained soils in a sheltered sunny position[].
Plants experience very cold winters in their native habitat, though this is accompanied by heavy snow which acts to insulate the plant from the extremes of cold. However, this species should be suitable for cultivation in temperate areas that only experience light frosts[].
Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[]. Palms can also often be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[].

Edible Uses

Young leafs and buds[]. No more details are given.
Young inflorescence[].No more details are given.
Fruit[]. No more details are given.

Medicinal

The leaves are purgative[]. They are used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[]. Yes, both these reports come from the same source, without further explanation[]. The plant is chiefly used in veterinary medicine[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at not less than 24°c[]. Stored seed is very slow to germinate. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing may shorten the germination time. Plants form a long tap-root some time before forming a shoot and so should be sown in fairly deep pots. Germination of fresh seed usually takes place in 3 - 4 months at 25°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.