April 28, 2018

Arenga undulatifolia

The Arenga undulatifolia is a spectacular palm that can grow as a solitary trunk, or as a clustering variety. It can reach up to 30 feet tall, and is noted for having leaflets that are wavy on the margins, which has how the palm received its name. Undulatifolia in latin means “undulating foliage.”

The trunk is covered in mat of dark fiber which falls off when it is almost matured. Fallen fiber leaves behind a smooth dark green ringed scar on the trunk.  

Their native habitats are located in the Philippines, Borneo and western Indonesia on Sulawesi, in forested areas where limestone outcrops are common. It is known as Arenga ambong in the region.

There are four specimens growing in the Merwin Palm Forest.

The Merwin Conservancy's logo; image displays a palm frond oriented vertically