ABSTRACT
This chapter provides information on uses, folk medicine, chemistry, germplasm, distribution, ecology, cultivation, harvesting, yields, energy, and biotic factors of Nipa palm. E. A. Menninger summarizes that the Nipa palm supplies roofing, thatching, baskets, matting, cigarette wrappers, fuel, alcohol, sugar, toddy, and other products. Also useful for stabilizing soils in tidal terrain. The nut is jelly-like at first, becoming nutty, and finally so hard as to require grating or pounding for eating raw. Leaves are much valued for thatching, basketry, and mats. Midribs are used for making coarse brooms and as fuel. Young unexpanded leaves are used as cigarette wrappers. Leaflets, with 10.2% tannin and 15.2% hard-tans are used for tanning leather. Nipa palm is a folk remedy for centipede bites, herpes, sores, toothache, and ulcers. The sugar is used in a tonic prescription. The stem-bud has been used in making a charmed preparation to counteract poison.
