Salak

Salakpalme ( Salacca zalacca )

The Salakpalme ( Salacca zalacca ) comes from the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java, where it grows in thickets on wet, swampy soils. For its edible fruit is cultivated in many other countries. She is very sensitive to cold and grows only in the tropics.

Description

The Salakpalme is up to six meters high. The leaves are fiederförmig, are in whorls and are 60 inches long. The upper leaf surface is shiny green and the leaf underside is whitish green. Almost all aerial parts of the palm are covered by numerous sharp spines. The plant is dioecious and the flower is located immediately above the ground, hidden among the leaves. Salak palms spread via underground, branched rhizomes and form large, dense clumps.

Fruit

The fruits are ovoid or pear-shaped and usually brown to red. The fruit bowl shines is scaly overlapping and reminiscent of a snake skin. The flesh is light yellow or pink and in two to four (usually three ) divided segments. The inedible seeds in the center of the flesh are brown to black. The taste is reminiscent of pear, lychee and jackfruit. The fruits are offered at local markets. In Europe they are sold commercially under the name "Snake (skin) fruit " (English: snake fruit) or " Salak " offered.