Phoenix sylvestris
Indian date
Phoenix sylvestris, commonly known as the Silver Date Palm, is a versatile tropical plant valued in traditional medicine. Widely distributed across Asia, its various parts—including fruits, leaves, and roots—are utilized to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to skin inflammations, offering significant therapeutic potential in herbal pharmacology.
- Scientific name: Phoenix sylvestris
- Family: Arecaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Arecales and the family Arecaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Phoenix.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Arecales | WCVP |
| Family | Arecaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Phoenix | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Phoenix sylvestris, is recognized by various regional and linguistic names across the globe. In Lithuania, it is referred to as Indiinis finikas, while in Chinese, it is called 银海枣. German speakers identify it as the Silber-Dattelpalm, and in Telugu, it is commonly known as ఈత చెట్టు. Additionally, in Poland, the species is known as Daktylowiec leśny.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| lt | Indinis finikas | Wikidata |
| zh | 银海枣 | Wikidata |
| de | Silber-Dattelpalme | Wikidata |
| te | ఈత చెట్టు | Wikidata |
| pl | Daktylowiec leśny | Wikidata |
| th | อินทผลัมไทย | Wikidata |
| ar | نخلة حرجية | Wikidata |
| ml | കാട്ടീന്ത | Wikidata |
| mr | शिंदी | Wikidata |
| yue | 銀海棗 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several key regions. In the Indian Subcontinent, it is widely distributed throughout India, Bangladesh, and the state of Assam. Its presence also extends to the southeastern parts of China. Beyond the Asian continent, the species can be found in the Western Indian Ocean, specifically on the island of Mauritius. Together, these locations highlight the broad ecological footprint of Phoenix sylvestris.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Andaman Is. | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Phoenix sylvestris, commonly known as the wild date palm, offers various components that are utilized in traditional medicinal practices. While the fruit and various extracts from the tree are often studied for their nutritional and therapeutic properties, the kernel contained within the fruit is particularly noteworthy. In many folk medicine traditions, the kernel is processed and used for its potential health benefits, contributing to the overall medicinal profile of this versatile species.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| kernel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Phoenix sylvestris has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Catechins.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Catechins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |