Palmfarn

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Massing, Seashore, Specimen. Requires a strong loam with sharp sand and good drainage. Succeeds in dry soils. Requires a sunny position. Although it is the hardiest cycad, this species is not fully hardy in Britain but can tolerate occasional lows to about -5°c so long as the crown is protected and so is worthwhile trying outdoors in a sheltered position in the mildest areas of the country. Alternatively, it can be given greenhouse or conservatory protection over the winter and be placed outdoors in the summer. Plants are very slow growing. This plant is often used as a food source in its native range but recent research has shown that it can cause chronic nervous disorders if it is not treated properly. Overall its use is not to be recommended, especially since it is becoming rare in the wild. The plants produce special upward growing roots where nitrogen is produced in symbiosis with algae. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Not North American native, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, There are no flowers or blooms.

Edible Parts: Seed Stem Edible Uses: Seed - raw or cooked. They can be dried and ground into a powder then mixed with brown rice and fermented into 'date miso' or 'sotetsu miso'. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. The heart or pith of the trunk is sliced and eaten baked or powdered. A toxic principal must first be removed. A starch can be extracted from this pith and is used for making dumplings. It is very sustaining.

None known

Heimisch: Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Quindío, San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Tolima, BR, Caribbean, China (Fujian), Japan (Ryukyu Islands), China Southeast, Floridablanca, Global, Japan, Jardín Botánico de Bogotá, Montería | Yopal | Manizales, NO, Nansei-shoto, Southern Asia, TW, Taiwan, conterminous 48 United States Eingeführt: Alabama, Azores, BF, Bangladesh, Bogotá, D.C., CD, CO, Galápagos Islands, IN, IR, Kruger National Park, LY, MH, Madeira, SC, ZA