Borassodendron is a small genus of two fan palms in the family Arecaceae (order Arecales), native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Both species are tall, solitary-stemmed trees bearing a crown of large, deeply divided, fan-shaped leaves atop an unbranched trunk.
Borassodendron machadonis, found in southern Thailand, southern Myanmar, and Peninsular Malaysia, is distinguished by its very deeply split, dark green, glossy leaves and extremely sharp-edged petioles. It grows in lowland tropical rainforest, often on limestone hills, at elevations below 500 metres in areas of high rainfall. Borassodendron borneense, confined to Borneo, is similarly tall and single-stemmed, favouring shaded rainforest conditions.
Both species are collected from the wild for local use: the apical bud (palm heart) is eaten as a cooked vegetable, fruits and immature seeds are consumed, and the stems of B. borneense are sawn into boards for house construction. B. machadonis is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to ongoing habitat loss and mining activities in its range.
Distribution
Borassodendron comprises two species with disjunct ranges in Southeast Asia: B. machadonis occurs in southern Thailand, southern Myanmar, and Peninsular Malaysia, while B. borneense is endemic to Borneo. Both are restricted to lowland tropical rainforest below 500 metres elevation.
Ecology
Both species grow in humid tropical rainforest, requiring high annual rainfall (≥1,500 mm), consistently warm temperatures (no frost; minimum ~10 °C), and moist but well-drained soils. B. machadonis also occurs on limestone hills and tolerates full sun from an early age. B. borneense favours lightly shaded forest conditions.
Conservation
Borassodendron machadonis is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (assessed 2011), with the primary threats being deforestation and mining activities within its range on the Malay Peninsula and southern Thailand. No IUCN assessment was found for B. borneense.
Cultural Uses
Both species are harvested from the wild for local food use: the apical bud (palm heart) is eaten as a cooked vegetable, and fruits or immature seeds are consumed. The stems of B. borneense are sawn into boards and used in traditional house construction. A notable hazard: the petioles of B. machadonis have extremely sharp edges capable of inflicting deep cuts.
Propagation
Propagation is by seed. Seeds should be pre-soaked in warm water for 24 hours before sowing in containers. Germination is typical of borassoid palms and may be slow.
