The plant prefers a tropical rainforest climate in Southeast Asia and thrives in dense shade. It is typically found at altitudes up to 300 meters.
Salak fruit
Salacca zalacca, also known as salak palm, is a tropical rainforest plant native to Southeast Asia. It produces edible fruits with a hard, scaly exterior, which are highly regarded for their delicious taste when eaten raw. The plant also has versatile uses such as providing leaves for thatching, mats, and acting as a barrier and forage plant.
Salacca zalacca, syn. Salacca edulis
Indonesia
- The salak palm, also known as Salacca zalacca or Salacca edulis, belongs to the Other utility group. - It is native to Southeast Asia, specifically tropical rainforests, where it thrives in dense shade at elevations up to 300 meters. - The fruit of the salak palm is edible and is highly regarded as one of the best palm fruits for eating raw. It has a hard scaly exterior. - In addition to the fruit, the seeds of the salak palm are also edible. - The leaves of the salak palm have various uses, including being used for thatching roofs, making mats, and serving as a barrier and forage plant. - The salak palm is a widely cultivated fruit, primarily consumed fresh or pickled. However, it is mainly grown and consumed locally. - This palm is characterized by its spiny nature and ability to sucker, reaching a height of up to 5 meters. - The salak palm is considered unimproved, indicating that it has not undergone significant breeding or selection for desirable traits.
Prefers well-drained soil.
SE Asia: tropical rainforest, in dense shade, to 300 m. Edible fruit in hard scaly exterior; is said to be one of the finest palm fruits for eating raw. The seeds are edible. The leaves are used for thatch, mats; barrier and forage plant. Widely cultivated fruit, fresh or pickled; local products only; spiny, suckering feather palm to 5 m. Unimproved.