Metroxylon sagu, the true sago palm, is a species of palm in the genus Metroxylon, native to tropical southeastern Asia. The tree is a major source of sago starch.
True sago palm is a suckering (multiple-stemmed) palm, each stem only flowering once (hapaxanthic) with a large upright terminal inflorescence. A stem grows 7–25 metres (23–82 feet) tall before it ends in an inflorescence.[3]
Before flowering, a stem bears about 20 pinnate leaves up to 10 m (33 ft) long. Each leaf has about 150–180 leaflets up to 175 centimetres (5+1⁄2 ft) long. The inflorescence, 3–7.5 m (10–24+1⁄2 ft) tall and wide, consists of the continuation of the stem and 15–30 upwardly-curving (first-order) branches spirally arranged on it. Each first-order branch has 15–25 rigid, distichously arranged second-order branches; each second-order branch has 10–12 rigid, distichously arranged third-order branches. Flower pairs are spirally arranged on the third-order branches, each pair consisting of one male and one hermaphrodite flower. The fruit is drupe-like, about 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, covered in scales which turn from bright green to straw-coloured upon ripening.[3]
The sago palm reproduces by fruiting. Each stem (trunk) in a sago palm clump flowers and fruits at the end of its life, but the sago palm as an individual organism lives on through its suckers (shoots that are continuously branching off a stem at or below ground level).[3]
The tree is of commercial importance as the main source of sago, a starch obtained from the trunk by washing the starch kernels out of the pulverized pith with water. A trunk cut just prior to flowering contains enough sago to feed a person for a year.[4] Sago is used in cooking for puddings, noodles, breads, and as a thickener. In the Sepik River region of New Guinea, pancakes made from sago are a staple food, often served with fresh fish. Its leaflets are also used as thatching which can remain intact for up to five years.[5] The dried petioles (called gaba-gaba in Indonesian) are used to make walls and ceilings; they are very light, and therefore also used in the construction of rafts.
To harvest the starch in the stem, it is felled shortly before or early during its final flowering stage when starch content is highest. Sago palm is propagated by man by collecting (cutting) and replanting young suckers rather than by seed.[3]
The upper portion of the trunk's core can be roasted for food; the young nuts, fresh shoots and palm cabbage are also edible.[4]
Recent research indicates that the sago palm was an important food source for the ancient people of coastal China, in the period prior to the cultivation of rice.[6]
Cultureedit
Sago was noted by the Chinese historian Zhao Rukuo (1170–1231) during the Song Dynasty. In his Zhu Fan Zhi (1225), a collection of descriptions of foreign countries, he writes that the kingdom of Boni "...produces no wheat, but hemp and rice, and they use sha-hu (sago) for grain".[7]
Referencesedit
^ abcRahman, W.; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) (2021). "Metroxylon sagu". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T155290240A155290242. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
^ abcdSchuiling, D.L. (2009) Growth and development of true sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottbøll) with special reference to accumulation of starch in the trunk: a study on morphology, genetic variation and ecophysiology, and their implications for cultivation. (PhD thesis Wageningen University).
Media related to Metroxylon sagu at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Metroxylon sagu at Wikispecies
January 01, 1970
metroxylon, sagu, true, sago, palm, species, palm, genus, metroxylon, native, tropical, southeastern, asia, tree, major, source, sago, starch, sago, palm, sago, palms, with, characteristic, terminal, inflorescence, infructescence, west, seram, maluku, indonesi. Metroxylon sagu the true sago palm is a species of palm in the genus Metroxylon native to tropical southeastern Asia The tree is a major source of sago starch Sago palm Sago palms with characteristic terminal inflorescence infructescence West Seram Maluku Indonesia Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Monocots Clade Commelinids Order Arecales Family Arecaceae Genus Metroxylon Species M sagu Binomial name Metroxylon saguRottb 2 Synonyms 2 Metroxylon hermaphroditum Hassk Metroxylon inerme Roxb Mart Metroxylon laeve Giseke Mart Metroxylon longispinum Giseke Mart Metroxylon micracanthum Mart Metroxylon oxybracteatum Warb ex K Schum amp Lauterb Metroxylon rumphii Willd Mart Metroxylon squarrosum Becc Metroxylon sylvestre Giseke Mart Sagus americana Poir Sagus genuina Giseke Sagus inermis Roxb Sagus koenigii Griff Sagus laevis Jack Sagus longispina Giseke Blume Sagus micracantha Mart Blume Sagus rumphii Willd Sagus sagu Rottb H Karst Sagus spinosa Roxb Sagus sylvestris Giseke Blume Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Uses 4 Culture 5 References 6 External linksDescription editTrue sago palm is a suckering multiple stemmed palm each stem only flowering once hapaxanthic with a large upright terminal inflorescence A stem grows 7 25 metres 23 82 feet tall before it ends in an inflorescence 3 Before flowering a stem bears about 20 pinnate leaves up to 10 m 33 ft long Each leaf has about 150 180 leaflets up to 175 centimetres 5 1 2 ft long The inflorescence 3 7 5 m 10 24 1 2 ft tall and wide consists of the continuation of the stem and 15 30 upwardly curving first order branches spirally arranged on it Each first order branch has 15 25 rigid distichously arranged second order branches each second order branch has 10 12 rigid distichously arranged third order branches Flower pairs are spirally arranged on the third order branches each pair consisting of one male and one hermaphrodite flower The fruit is drupe like about 5 cm 2 in in diameter covered in scales which turn from bright green to straw coloured upon ripening 3 The sago palm reproduces by fruiting Each stem trunk in a sago palm clump flowers and fruits at the end of its life but the sago palm as an individual organism lives on through its suckers shoots that are continuously branching off a stem at or below ground level 3 Distribution and habitat editMetroxylon sagu is native to the Maluku Islands and New Guinea It has been naturalised in other parts of tropical Asia including Sumatra Borneo and Thailand 1 2 Its habitat is in lowland swamp forests 1 Uses editMain article Sago The tree is of commercial importance as the main source of sago a starch obtained from the trunk by washing the starch kernels out of the pulverized pith with water A trunk cut just prior to flowering contains enough sago to feed a person for a year 4 Sago is used in cooking for puddings noodles breads and as a thickener In the Sepik River region of New Guinea pancakes made from sago are a staple food often served with fresh fish Its leaflets are also used as thatching which can remain intact for up to five years 5 The dried petioles called gaba gaba in Indonesian are used to make walls and ceilings they are very light and therefore also used in the construction of rafts To harvest the starch in the stem it is felled shortly before or early during its final flowering stage when starch content is highest Sago palm is propagated by man by collecting cutting and replanting young suckers rather than by seed 3 The upper portion of the trunk s core can be roasted for food the young nuts fresh shoots and palm cabbage are also edible 4 Recent research indicates that the sago palm was an important food source for the ancient people of coastal China in the period prior to the cultivation of rice 6 Culture editSago was noted by the Chinese historian Zhao Rukuo 1170 1231 during the Song Dynasty In his Zhu Fan Zhi 1225 a collection of descriptions of foreign countries he writes that the kingdom of Boni produces no wheat but hemp and rice and they use sha hu sago for grain 7 References edit a b c Rahman W IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group amp Botanic Gardens Conservation International BGCI 2021 Metroxylon sagu IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T155290240A155290242 Retrieved 7 February 2023 a b c Metroxylon sagu Plants of the World Online Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 22 February 2023 a b c d Schuiling D L 2009 Growth and development of true sago palm Metroxylon sagu Rottboll with special reference to accumulation of starch in the trunk a study on morphology genetic variation and ecophysiology and their implications for cultivation PhD thesis Wageningen University a b The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants United States Department of the Army New York Skyhorse Publishing 2009 p 88 ISBN 978 1 60239 692 0 OCLC 277203364 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia Palms Metroxylon sagu Retrieved 28 February 2012 In ancient China sago palms were major plant food prior to rice cultivation Harrisson Tom 1969 Volume 1 Brunei Museum Journal 1 Muzium Brunei 106 External links edit nbsp Media related to Metroxylon sagu at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Metroxylon sagu at Wikispecies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metroxylon sagu amp oldid 1218818926, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
