Arenga microcarpa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Arenga microcarpa | |
|---|---|
(microcarpa)()(p)(wp)(IDC)(0518)(UV)(GrooteEylandt472).jpg) | |
| Arenga microcarpa, GrooteEylandt, NT Herbarium | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Arenga |
| Species: | A. microcarpa |
| Binomial name | |
| Arenga microcarpa Becc. | |
Arenga microcarpa, also known aren sagu or Sagu Baruk, is a perennial densely clumping palm native to the Moluccas and Papua New Guinea and cultivated in open lowland areas in northern Australia and Indonesia.[1][2][3]
The palm grows to 7 meters. It has dark glossy green leaves with whitish undersides and small red fruit.[1]
The Sagu Baruk palm is cultivated on the Talaud and Sangihe Islands for extraction of starch from the pith.[2] It is reported that Sagu flour is the primary food source for 88% of the Sangihe Island population.[4]