Borassus flabellifer
Toddy palm
Borassus flaellifer, commonly known as the Palmyra palm, is a versatile tropical plant revered for its medicinal properties. Every part of this resilient tree offers therapeutic potential, from its nutrient-rich fruit and sap to its fibrous leaves. It is widely utilized in traditional medicine to treat various ailments and support wellness.
- Scientific name: Borassus flabellifer
- Family: Arecaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Arecales and the family Arecaceae, it is classified under the genus Borassus. Its specific scientific name is Borassus flabellifer.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Arecales | WCVP |
| Family | Arecaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Borassus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Borassus flabellifer, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Javanese, it is referred to as Siwalan, while in Polish, it is called Winodań wachlarzowata. In French-speaking areas, it is known as le Palmier de Palmyre, and in Tamil, it is called ஆசியப் பனை. Additionally, in Hungarian, the species is referred to as Palmira-pálma.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| jv | Siwalan | Wikidata |
| pl | Winodań wachlarzowata | Wikidata |
| fr | Palmier de Palmyre | Wikidata |
| ta | ஆசியப் பனை | Wikidata |
| hu | Palmira-pálma | Wikidata |
| id | Siwalan | Wikidata |
| de | Palmyrapalme | Wikidata |
| ja | オウギヤシ | Wikidata |
| ml | കരിമ്പന | Wikidata |
| vi | Thốt nốt | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide and varied geographical distribution across several major regions. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found extending as far north as Mauritania. Its presence is also noted in Northeast Tropical Africa, specifically on the island of Socotra. Within the Asian continent, the species is located in South-Central China and across parts of the Indian Subcontinent, including Assam and Bangladesh. These diverse locations highlight the broad ecological range of this medicinal species.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Socotra | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the Palmyra palm, possesses a unique reproductive structure where the male and female flowers are produced on separate inflorescences. The male flowers are small, numerous, and clustered within a woody spathe, serving as a vital component of the palm's biological cycle. These male flowers are essential for the pollination process, as they produce the pollen necessary to fertilize the female flowers, ultimately ensuring the production of the palm's characteristic fruits and seeds.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| male flowers | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Borassus flabellifer has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Yamogenin, dioscin, fatty acids, peroxidase, phytosterols.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Yamogenin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dioscin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fatty acids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| peroxidase | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phytosterols | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triglycerides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Borassus flabellifer has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Borassus flabellifer has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cholera.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cholera | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |