Salacca zalacca!

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

This afternoon I went with some friends to Playa Biesanz. This is a local beach in a secluded cove in Manuel Antonio. To get there you must drive down a dirt road, park along the road, and then walk down a trail which leads to the beach. We took a few steps down the path and this was the first palm I saw. Based on photos I researched on the internet, I believe this is Salacca zalacca.

The fruit had a strong odor of strawberry bubblegum, at least that's what it smelled like to me.

I came home with a bag of these

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

There were 2 or 3 large clumps and a couple smaller ones along the trail. They are kept trimmed somewhat so that the fronds do not stick out into the path. That would be dangerous!

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

A small one

close-up of new bronze leaf

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Last photo

One of the smaller clumps

Very cool palm - native to Indonesia. I hope to get some seeds to germinate!

[kylecawazafla]

What a beautiful palm! I've never seen pictures of them quite like yours! You should try eating the fruit. They are one of the few palms where you can eat the fruit as nature makes it!

[rthink]

Hi Jeff,

I think that is not Salacca zalacca. S. zalacca has dark brown seeds. Yours looks like S. wallichiana.

And yes, the fruits taste good!

[palmislandRandy]

Nice find! Eat the fruit, plant the seeds

[Manolitus]

I have heard and read that the Salak fruit is one of the best and most expensive of tropical fruits. And tough finds. Practically only available in SE Asia. Mostly Thailand.

Excellent find.

Manny

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Thanks everyone! I'll have to give the fruits a try.

Chalermchart, thanks for the id! I couldn't find many photos or descriptions of Salacca wallichiana. The fruit on these palms start off the color of strawberries and then turn a brownish color as they age and fall from the tree.

Here is the stash I brought home. I only collected about 15 fruits. There were lots more on the trees and on the ground. Does anyone know the best way to germinate them? Should I remove the red spiny skin or just plant them as is?

[Moose]

Jeff - Clean the fruit off first, then sow your seeds.

Then get your butt back to Momma and get the rest of those seeds!

Great score!

Best regards,

Ron.

[realarch]

Put us on your mailing list too.

Tim

[ariscott]

I didn't think it was S. zalacca (Chalermchart beat me to it). I have eaten them plenty of times and they are never reddish... I am not quite sure whether they are ready, usually they are a bit fatter than that. Just have a tiny taste to make sure they are ripe. You don't want to eat unripe Salak as that won't be a very pleasant experience.

Yes, clean the fruit or eat the fruit... and then just plant the seeds like you would any other seeds. It should come up quite quickly.

Regards, Ari

[paulgila]

salak fruit is widely available in bali.the ones i have seen there are brown in color.they are not too expensive & they taste delicious!

i have brought the seeds home & they germinate quickly but never survive a socal winter.

[JD in the OC]

Could be Salacca magnifica...?

[bgl]

Jeff,

As others already mentioned, clean the seeds and you should get excellent germination. When we were in Thailand for the 1998 Biennial we bought some Salacca fruit from the local market. Ate the fruit and then brought the seeds back here to Hawaii. I believe almost all of them germinated and they are good size palms today. And I don't know if you want to go back for the rest - what are you going to do with 100 Salaccas?

Bo-Göran

[ariscott]

Could be Salacca magnifica...?

This is S. magnifica.

Regards, Ari

[rthink]

Hi Jeff,

You can see some photos of S. wallichiana at this link.

http://images.google.co.th/images?hl=en&am...sa=N&tab=wi

The fruits are available all year round in Thailand. And mind you that they have separate male and female plants.

[Kris]

Beautiful visuals gentlemen...

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Thanks for all the info everyone! I doubt if I will taste it. This fruit is very pungent and after smelling it for the last 24 hours, I don't think I can stomach eating it. I had to seal them in a bag and spray the house with air freshener. Maybe only the brown fruit is edible?

Chalermchart, thanks for the link to the photos!

Ari, nice photo! Now why did you have to go and show me that? Now I want Salacca magnifica!!!

Bo, I won't be going back for more. 15 is more than enough for me.

[8er-moni]

Thank you for the grat pics! WOW!

These are mine - I hope, they will continue growing

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Moni, Those are some nice looking seedlings! I hope to have a few of them myself soon.

[Gileno Machado]

Very nice to find a grown up Salacca, Jeff...

Seeing your picture, I guess it is easy to differentiate them: S. wallichiana seems to have much thinner leaflets.

Here's my S. wallichiana:

[Gileno Machado]

and here's one of my S. zalacca clumps:

[8er-moni]

@ Jeff - thank you and good luck für your's

Great pics, Gileno, thanks!!!!!

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Gileno, nice photos! How old is your S. wallichiana? Are they fast or slow growing?

Are you growing S. magnifica? After seeing Ari's photo, I want one!

[Peter Pacific]

Way to go, Jeff. I just saw a Salacca zalacca at Fairchild a couple of weeks ago, they will be just great in your garden!