Palm Tree

Palm tree which has the common name in Khmer word is Thnoat. We can take many advantages from this kind of tree. 

 

Palm trees is approximately 10-25m height; its trunk is rough and dark in color with diameter around 20-60cm. Midrib of palm tree is thick and smooth; has yellow-green color when it is young; yellow-brown color when it is older; and has thorns along both edges in the form of chainsaw teeth. There is also a different between Male and Female flower. Male flower of sugar palm has long and rounding form with size of 2-4 cm and length of 30-50 cm, whereas female flower has a form of rounding fruit with the length of 50-70 cm which yield fruits from 20 to 50. Sugar palm fruit is round and dark-brown color on the bottom part and green color on the top; and changes the color to dark-yellow when it ripens.

Since the ancient time up to the present, Cambodian people have taken the advantages from palm trees in different ways. According to the document, male flowers of palm tree have been used for traditional medicine to cur malaria, sexual diseases, anesthesia of hand and leg. We also take this tree to build the house, shelter for animals, boats, or some other construction materials. The leaves can be used to build the roof and wall of the houses, braiding mats, hats, boxes or trunks; furthermore, people in the past using its leaves for inscribing or writing the Sanskrit for monks to practice. Palm tree fruit and juice has delicious taste and it is popular within Khmer society. The production of sugar from palm tree juice is a tradition of Khmer People since ancient time until present.

 By BA01472