| Eleiodoxa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Calamoideae |
| Tribe: | Calameae |
| Genus: | Eleiodoxa (Becc.)Burret[1] |
| Species: | E. conferta |
| Binomial name | |
| Eleiodoxa conferta | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Eleiodoxa is amonotypicgenus offlowering plant in thepalm family found inSoutheast Asia. The onlyspecies,Eleiodoxa conferta, is adioecious,swamp-dwelling plant, commonly called byMalay asasam kelubi orasam paya. While five species names have been published, the other four are usually recognized as synonyms of the lectotypeE. conferta.[2] The genus is named from twoGreek words meaning "water" and "glory" and the species name isLatin for "congested", an allusion to the flower spike.[3]
While remaining underground, the trunks of these palms are clustering and form dense thickets. As one of the fewhapaxanths in the family, individual trunks are determinate and die after flowering. A matureleaf reaches 3.5 m in length on 3 mpetioles which are armed with whorls of 5 – 7 cm long spines. The green to deep green pinnae are regularly arranged along the rachis, 1.5 m in length, and toothed along the margins. Theinflorescence emerges at ground level, bearing either male or femaleflowers, in the latter forming scaly, redfruit with one or occasionally twoseeds.
Found in tropicalThailand,Malaysia,Borneo andSumatra inpeat swamp forestfacies and fresh water swamps they are highly gregarious, forming large colonies.
When this palm is cultivated it demands generous water, and rich, acidic soil and shade or filtered light. In habitat, thepalm heart is consumed and the leaves are used in thatching. The fruit are oftenpickled and used as a substitute fortamarind or made into sweetmeat.[4]
