Nipa palm seedling (Nypa fruticans)
 
x1 Seedling

Nipa palm, Nypa fruticans, is a large evergreen palm forming a loose clump of growth from a prostrate or subterranean stem up to 45cm in diameter. This stem branches at intervals to form individual clumps of large erect leaves that can each be up to 6 metres long. A highly valued food and source of materials for local peoples, providing edible seeds and sap plus an excellent material for thatching. It is often cultivated in small plantations to supply food and materials, and is also widely planted along swampy coastlines, often with mangroves, to protect the shore from erosion.

Nypa fruticans is widespread and can be locally common. There are some localized threats to this species from habitat loss and extraction, but it is planted in many areas and is used for many goods and services. As a result, the population is very dynamic with declines in some regions and increases in others. Although there are overall range declines in many areas, they are not enough to reach any of the threatened category thresholds. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2013).

Cultivation Details:
Nypa fruticans is a plant of low elevations in the moist tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 27°C, but can tolerate 20 - 35°C. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 2,800mm, but tolerates 1,500 - 3,500mm. Grows best in a sunny position. Plants are only found in tidal mudflats of the moist tropics in the wild, though they have also been successfully cultivated in swampy ground some distance from the sea. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 5.5 - 8.5.

Nipa palm is probably the oldest palm species, with evidence to show that it had a pantropical distribution 13 - 63 million years ago. It is considered an advanced palm species, and it has been suggested that it could be related to two genera in the Pandanaceae, Pandanus and Sararanga. The first flowering occurs 3 - 4 years after germination. The plant can be tapped for its sap by the time of the second flowering.

Edible Uses:
Seed - raw. Harvested when the fruits are immature, the seed has a delicious creamy flavour. The white endosperm of immature seeds is sweet and jelly-like, and is consumed as a snack. The mature seeds are sometimes eaten, but are very hard.

A sugary sap is obtained from the inflorescence. It is used mainly to make an alcoholic beverage, but also to make syrup, sugar and vinegar. The inflorescence is cooked in the syrup obtained from the inflorescence to produce an energy-giving sweetmeat.

Medicinal Uses:
Various parts of nipa palm are a source of traditional medicines (e.g., juice from young shoots is used against herpes, ash of burned nipa material against toothache and headache). The plant (part not specified) is used as a remedy for the bites of centipedes and as a cure for ulcers.

Agroforestry Uses:
The plant has been used for erosion control along coastal mudflats.

Other Uses:
The leaves are an excellent material for thatching and basket making. They can also be woven into walls. When used for thatching, the leaflets are stripped from the rachis and formed into a thick fringe (tagon) on a reed. After having been thoroughly dried the thatch is secured to the framework of the roof by lashings of pandanus leaves split up the middle and deprived of their stiff keel. Two men work at a time on each reed, beginning at the eaves and working toward the ridge, which is covered with a sort of braided matting secured in place by pins passing under the ridge-pole and projecting on each side. The leaves are considered to be far superior to and more durable than coconut thatch (Cocos nucifera).

The strong leaf stalks have many structural uses. They are also made into arrows. The leaflets and midribs are used for manufacturing of brooms, baskets, mats and sunhats. The leaves may contain up to 10% tannin.

Propagation:
Seed - there is little information on germination of this plant. It seems likely that the seed benefits from a period of being immersed in the sea since germinating seeds are often washed up on shore in the areas where it grows. The seed needs to be fresh and also needs to be kept in warm and permanently moist conditions if it is to germinate.