Nypa fruticans aka Nipa

Nypa fruticans is an evergreen palm in the Arecaceae family. Its common names include nipa palm and mangrove palm. It grows along coasts and river mouths in tropical Asia. Its range also reaches the Solomon Islands and northern Australia. It lives in low, wet ground with deep mud. Tides flood many of the places where it grows. Useful Tropical Plants reports its conservation status as Least Concern. Habitat loss and harvesting cause declines in some areas.

This palm forms loose clumps rather than a tall, upright trunk. Its stem lies along the ground or beneath it. The stem branches, giving rise to separate clumps of leaves. It can reach about 1.5 feet [0.45 metres] across. Published garden dimensions are about 16 feet [5 metres] tall and wide. Individual upright leaves can reach 20 feet [6 metres] long. The leaves and flower stalks rise above the ground. Female flowers sit at the tip of a round flower cluster. Male flowers grow on the lower branches, and flies pollinate them.

Nipa palm needs warmth, sun, and a steady water supply. Reported hardiness covers USDA zones 11–12. It grows best at daytime temperatures of 23–27°C. It can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soil. It accepts acidic, neutral, and alkaline ground. Rich silt supports dense stands in its river habitat. It grows in fresh water as well as brackish water. Salt is not essential for healthy growth. Long exposure to full-strength seawater is unsuitable. The ground must not stay dry for long. Plants can also grow in swampy sites away from the sea.

People grow this palm for food and useful materials. The soft flesh inside young seeds is sweet and jelly-like. People eat it raw as a snack. Older seeds are edible too, but become very hard. Flower stalks yield sap for sugar, syrup, vinegar, and alcoholic drinks. People also cook the flower cluster in its own syrup. Leaves supply roof thatch, baskets, and woven walls. Plantings help hold coastal mud in place and limit erosion. These uses give the palm value in wet coastal landscapes.

Traditional remedies use several parts of the plant. Reported uses include treatments for toothache, headache, ulcers, and bites. These records describe folk uses, not proof that treatments work. The supplied sources report no known hazards. Fresh seed needs warmth and constant moisture to germinate. Water carries seeds to new sites along rivers and coasts. Some Australian stands appear to spread through stem growth instead. Their lack of young plants suggests little seed recruitment there.