Common Name: Wild Date Plum

General Information

Phoenix sylvestris is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree producing a hemispherical crown of more than 50 leaves at the top of an unbranched stem. The stem is usually 10 - 15 metres tall, occasionally reaching 20 metres, and is 20 - 30cm in diameter (excluding leaf sheaths). The gently recurved leaves can be are around 1.5 - 4 metres long on a stem up to 1 metre long, and are spiny near their base[, ]. Typically, the plant has a swollen base with a mass of roots, and retains the leaf bases on the trunk[, ].
The plant is sometimes of considerable local economic importance, particularly as a source of sugar, and is sometimes cultivated for this purtpose[, ]. An ornamental plant, it is often grown in gardens and along the sides of roads[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Himalayas and plains, from Pakistan and western India to Nepal and Myanmar.

Habitat

Low-lying wasteland, open forest, grassland, along river banks and in areas that have been disturbed or are prone to periodic inundation, causing water-logging[, ]. It can be found in open tropical rainforest, open forest and grassland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the drier to moist tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 35°c, but can tolerate 20 - 40°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -9°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 700mm, but tolerates 250 - 1,000mm[].
Requires an open sunny position[]. Plants grow well in full sun, even when small[]. Requires a well-drained soil[]. It can grow in a wide range of soil types but prefers sandy well drained but moist soils[]. It will not survive in wet or badly drained soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8[]. Plants can tolerate at least some maritime exposure with salt spray and somewhat saline soil conditions[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A fast-growing plant[].
Phoenix species are quite liable to hybridize where the various species meet as a result of cultivation[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit. A sweet flavour[]. Sometimes eaten[]. Of a very inferior character[, ].

Sap - it can be concentrated into a syrup or fermented into alcohol[, ]. One of the main sources of sugar in Bengal[]. The sap is obtained from the unopened inflorescence[]. The tip of this is cut off and the sap then flows from this cut. The flow can be up to 5 litres a day for several months, it contains about 14% sugar[]. See also [].

The pith of the stem is sometimes harvested and made into a kind of sago[].

Medicinal

The fruit is useful in the treatment of heart complaints, abdominal complaints, fevers, vomiting and loss of consciousness[].
The fruit pounded and mixed with almonds, quince seeds, pistachio nuts and sugar, forms a restorative remedy[].

A paste made from the seed, combined with the root of Achyranthes aspera, is chewed with betel leaves (Areca catechu) as a remedy for ague[, ].

The juice obtained from the tree is considered to be a cooling beverage[, ].

The roots are used to stop toothache[].

The central tender part of the plant is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[].

Other Uses

The fibrous leaves are used in weaving for making bags, baskets, brooms, fans, mats etc[, , ].
The fibre obtained from the leaves is plentiful, soft, bleaches well, and is admirably adapted for paper-making[].

The fibrous leaf petioles are beaten and twisted into ropes which are traditionally used for drawing water from wells[].

The stems are used for thatching when making local houses[].

Propagation

Seed - probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse, otherwise sow the seed as soon as you obtain it. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 months. 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 winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors.