Facts On Nipa Palm

Nipa palm is scientifically called as “Nypa fruticans”.

ORIGIN OF NIPA PALM
Nypa fruticans, is a species of palm native to the coastlines and estuarine habitats of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.The genus Nypa and the subfamily Nypoideae are monotypic taxa because this species is their only member.

OTHER NAMES OF NIPA PALM
nipa palm , simply nipa , mangrove palm, Nypa, Atap palm,Gol Pata.

APPEARANCE OF NIPA PALM
Fruits of Nipa palm are chestnut brown, in cluster forming a globular shape (20-25cm).
Each Nipa palm fruit bears one seed which starts to germinate while still on the parent palm.

TASTES OF NIPA PALM
Nipa Palm fruits grow in a cluster. When young, its seeds (endosperm) are soft, juicy, edible, and tasty.
Nipa Palm fruits tastes almost like coconut meats.
The flower stem can provide a sugary sap.

ABOUT TREE OF NIPA PALM
Palm-shaped leaves are very long (5-9m).
The ‘stem’ of this palm is mostly horizontal and even underground.
The portion of the stem that is vertical is very short.
Shoots emerge along the stem, each bearing the long leaves.

VARIETIES OF NIPA PALM
• Cocos nypa Lour.
• Nipa arborescens Wurmb ex H. Wendl.
• Nipa fruticans (Wurmb) Thunb.
• Nipa litoralis Blanco.
• Nypa fruticans var. neameana F.M.Bailey.

Facts On Nipa Palm

The Nipa palm is among the more commercially valuable plants of the mangroves. Nipa palm extract from the inflorescence and when fermented, is called ‘toddy’. These toddy is used as local alcoholic drink.
The leaves of Nipa palms are used as thatch for ‘attap’ huts.This immature seed(endosperm) is harvested as a jelly like sweetmeat called ‘attap-chee’ and is a favorite in local desserts.
The leaves of Nipa palms are also used to make umbrellas, sunhats, raincoats, baskets, mats and bags.
Young leaves of Nipa palms are also made into cigarette-wrappers.