滇西蛇皮果 dian xi she pi guo

Stems clustered, short and subterranean. Leaf sheaths and petioles not distinct from one another, to 2.9 m, densely covered abaxially with small, distinct groups of 2-10 light brown spines to 3 cm; rachis to 4.5 m; pinnae 35-42 per side of rachis, lanceolate, regularly arranged and spreading in same plane; middle pinnae 83-125 cm, 4-7 cm in diam. at middle, with spines on margins and veins adaxially. Inflorescences borne together on short stems, their production ending life of stems; each inflorescence subtended by a much reduced leaf or leaf sheath; male inflorescences several per stem, each to 1 m, closely covered with overlapping bracts; rachillae 13-24 cm; flowers borne in dyads; stamens 6; female inflorescences several per stem, contracted, hidden among leaf bases; individual inflorescences 30-40 cm; rachillae 7-10, 8-12 cm, flowers borne in dyads of 1 sterile male and 1 female flower. Fruits obovoid, to 6 × 6-8 cm, 1-3-seeded, densely covered with triangular, flattened, spinelike scales.

Lowland rain forests or more often in disturbed areas; below 1000 m. Yunnan [Myanmar, Thailand].

Material of this species was treated in FRPS (13(1): 57. 1991) as Salacca secunda Griffith, which does not occur in China (see Henderson, Palms S. Asia, 164. 2009).

The leaves are commonly used for thatching.