Corypha macrophylla
Corypha macropoda
Corypha sylvestris
Gembanga rotundifolia
Livistona vidalii
Taliera elata
Taliera gembanga
Taliera sylvestris

Common Names:
Buri palm
Gebang (Java)
Ibus (Sumatra)
Lan
Sabal palm

Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division; Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida - Monocotyledons
Subclass: Arecidae
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae - Palm family
Genus: Corypha L. -
Species: utan Lam. - Ibus

(USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database, 7 June 2007 (http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.)

The leaves are fan-shaped, can grow up to 3 m wide, and are folded into pleats at the base of the leaf with distinct lobes in the upper half of the leaf. Ibus is monocarpic meaning that it produces a single inflorescence and then the plant dies. At maturity, which is generally reached after 30-50 years, it produces a single large branched inflorescence terminally on the stem that can be up to 5 m long. The inflorescence contains up to 1 million flowers that are fragrant with a strong, unpleasant odor, which is said to be similar to sour milk. This species is monoecious meaning that separate staminate (pollen producing) and pistillate (ovule producing) flowers are produced. The olive green to black fruit is 1 cm in diameter and has a fleshy fruit wall when immature which dries to become hard and fibrous as the fruit ripens.

(Hernandez, D.F. 1971. Plants of the Philippines. University of Philippines Press, Quezon City, Philippines.)
(Dransfield, J. A.S. Barfod, and R. Pongsattayapipat. 2004. A preliminary checklist to Thai Palms. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 32: 32-72.)

Ibus is found along rivers, in wetlands, and in open grasslands at low elevations. In Sulawesi this species is found in monsoon forests below 1000 m in elevation.

(Dransfield, J. A.S. Barfod, and R. Pongsattayapipat. 2004. A preliminary checklist to Thai Palms. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 32: 32-72.)

Species that are commonly tapped include Coconut (Cocos nucifera), Nipa palm (Nypa fruticans), and Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata). It takes up to 20 years for the tree to be suitable for tapping and this species only produces sap for a few months before flowering after which the plant subsequently dies. A 30-year-old Ibus plant can produce up to 20 liters of sap. In order to obtain the sap of this species the growing tip of the inflorescence is removed just before the inflorescence develops. A shallow depression is made at the top of the stem and the juice is collected from this depression. Alternative methods include making incisions in the flower stalk to collect the sap that is produced. The sap collected is boiled down into sugar or fermented to produce vinegar. The starch that is stored in the stem is eaten during rice-shortages and is obtained by splitting the stem, pounding the starch, and extracting the sago using water.

(Burkill, H.M. 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. 2 volumes. Art Printing Works, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
(Dalibard, C. 1999. Overall view on the tradition of tapping palm trees and prospects for animal production. Livestock Research for Rural Development 11(1).)

In the Philippines a decoction of the young plant parts is used to treat colds accompanied by fever.

(Burkill, H.M. 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. 2 volumes. Art Printing Works, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)


** The information provided above is not intended to be used as a guide for treatment of medical conditions using plants.

This species is considered of moderate quality for these products but is available at lower prices than the wood of other species such as kayu Merah (Eugenia rumphii), which is used by the upper class community members such as customary elders and religious leaders. In the Philippines the leafstalks are used to make fences and the leaves are used for thatching. The leaves become brittle over time therefore do not last well when used for thatching. The leaves and the fibers obtained from the leaves are woven into mats, hats, and bags. The leaves are dried to remove the outer leaf epidermis and the inner leaf is then soaked in seawater and woven. The very young leaves are boiled to bleach them and woven to produce high quality woven mats, baskets, and trays that are sold. The fibers of the leaves are used for the construction of ropes but the resulting rope is not as strong as that made from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) fibers.

(Burkill, H.M. 1966. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. 2 volumes. Art Printing Works, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
(Dalibard, C. 1999. Overall view on the tradition of tapping palm trees and prospects for animal production. Livestock Research for Rural Development 11(1).)
(Hernandez, D.F. 1971. Plants of the Philippines. University of Philippines Press, Quezon City, Philippines.)
(Hidayat, H. 1998. Forest management by the local peoples in Aru district, southeast Maluku.)