Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Industrial Crop: Vegetable ivory  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

A surprisingly tolerant palm, found naturally in tropical and subtropical arid to semiarid areas at elevations from sea level to 1,400 metres[303 , 314 ]. It is able to tolerate temperate climates, but prefers a mean annual temperature above 28°c[303 , 314 ]. It grows wild in areas where the mean annual rainfall is 100 - 600mm, but can also tolerate growing in areas of much higher rainfall, as long as the drainage is good (there is a very large Doum palm in the Singapore Botanic Gardens)[314 ]. Requires a sunny, very well drained position[314 ]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils[303 ]. Tolerates medium salinity[303 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5[303 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[314 ]. Growth is known to be relatively slow, and after germination a single strip-shaped leaf is produced, with fan-shaped leaves being produced at ground level 2 - 3 years after germination. At this stage, a new leaf is produced every 7 days and the stem is produced after 18 - 20 years[303 ]. Trees can commence fruiting when about 6 - 8 years old[303 ]. Mature trees of 6 - 8 years can produce 50 kilos of fruit per year[303 ]. A fire-resistant species, it is managed by coppicing and lopping[303 ]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[303 ]. Hermaphrodite trees do occur rarely, but their fruits are smaller and sterile[303 ]. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard.

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Plants providing crop shade especially trees.
• Industrial Crop: Vegetable ivory  Large hard seeds to substitute ivory.
• Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
• Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.