date sugar palm

Phoenix sylvestris, also called date sugar palm, is a member of the Arecaceae family. It is native to regions including southern Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, and has been introduced to other areas such as China, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean. The palm thrives in plains and scrubland environments at elevations up to 1300 m. The fruit of the plant is used in the production of wine and jelly. The sap is collected and used either fresh or fermented as toddy. In parts of India and Bangladesh, the sap is boiled to make palm jaggery. This species was first described in 1832.