Arenga microcarpa explained

Arenga microcarpa, also known aren sagu or Sagu Baruk, is a perennial densely clumping palm native to the Moluccas and Papua New Guinea and cultivated in open lowland areas in northern Australia and Indonesia.^{[1] [2]}

The palm grows to 7 meters. It has dark glossy green leaves with whitish undersides and small red fruit.^[3]

The Sagu Baruk palm is cultivated on the Talaud and Sangihe Islands for extraction of starch from the pith.^[1] It is reported that Sagu flour is the primary food source for 88% of the Sangihe Island population.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Growth characteristics and starch productivity of 'sagu baruk'(Arenga microcarpa Becc.) on Sangihe Island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Yoshinori. Yamamoto. Ayumi. Oshi . Tropical Agriculture Development. 6. 1. 12-22. 2022.
2. Web site: Herbaria . jurisdiction:Australian Government Departmental Consortium;corporateName:Council of Heads of Australasian . Partners . 2024-04-16 . avh.ala.org.au . en-AU.
3. Book: Cultivated Palms of the World. Don. Ellison. Anthony. Ellison. 28. UNSW Press. 2001. 9780868406114.
4. The Potential of Sagu Baruk Palm (Arenga microcarpha) as conservation plant. Journal of Agriculture and Food Technology. Marianus . Sumeru. Ashari. 2. 1. 7-15. 2015.