Phoenix sylvestris
Wild Date Plum
a perennial woody member of the Phoenix genus in the family Palmae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit. Of a very inferior character[8]. Sap - it can be concentrated into a syrup or fermented into alcohol[8]. One of the main sources of sugar in Bengal[8]. The sap is obtained from the unopened inflorescence[7]. 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[7]. See also[6]. There are no edible uses listed for Phoenix sylvestris.
Environment
- Range
- W. Asia - India
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires an open sunny position[5]. One of the most frost-hardy members of the genus. 200555
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
McMillan-Browse. P. Palms for Cooler Climates. Trebah Enterprises. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0 9521952 0 8
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)