Nipa Palm

Nipa palm is one of the most popular plants in Sundarban mangrove forest. This plant is locally known as Golpata (round leave) plant. Its scientific name is Nypa fruticans and belongs to the plant family Arecaceae. Nipa palm is considered the oldest among all palm plants existing in the whole world. Its leaves are not round, so the reason behind calling it Golpata by the local people is not clear.

 

General Description

Like the other members of the family, Nipa palm is also a unisexual ( male and female plants are different) monocotyledonous (seed with one cotyledon) plant. It does not have any visible part of stem above the soil, but horizontal and creeping rhizome with branches is seen to run below the surface of the land. Long leaves of the plant grow up directly from its base. In appearance the leaves of Nipa palm are comparable to the coconut leaves. The compound leaflets remain arranged on both side along mid-rib of a leaf. It is surprising to note that the average length of a leaf of Nipa palm is about 35 ft. The leaves are very smooth and they grow from the epical part of the plant. Gradually the new leaves grow and push aside the old ones. In course of time the old leaves fall on the soil, but unlike other palms its height does not increase. The bunch of fibrous roots which grow from the rhizomatous stem beneath the soil give mechanical support to the plant from being washed away by the tidal current. A full grown plant assumes the shape of a fountain.

 

Fruit of Nipa Palm

 

Nipa palm has two types of inflorescence depending upon male and female types of plants. The red flowers in female plants bloom towards apex while in male plants the yellow flowers bloom towards bottom. Insects, the giant bees of Sundarban in particular, cause cross pollination of Nipa palm. In course of time bunched fruits in the pattern of common palm comes out from the female plant. Such fruits, somewhat like big walnut, are full of nutrients and fondly consumed by people.

Distribution

Many scientists believe that Nipa palm is basically a plant of south-eastern Asia. From there it spread to Europe, America and other parts of the world long ago. However at present this plant can be seen only in the mangrove forests of south Asia and north Australia. The small islands, edges of rivers and lagoons in southern part of the Sundarban delta, bathed by the tidal influx with regularity are ideal habitat for survival of Nipa palm. It has been observed by the scientists that Nipa palm is the only member of its family of plants that can thrive well in saline water. This plant is not seen inside any country beyond the riverine costal zones, as it is well adapted to saline ecological conditions only.

Usage

It is a very difficult task to jot down the diverse uses of different parts of Nipa palm. The people who live in the adjoining areas of the mangrove forest of Sundarban are extremely poor. They need to struggle hard continuously for coping with the abject poverty and hostile physical environment. Most of the people dwell in huts made of plant twigs covered with mud. The leaves of Nipa palm are used for preparing thatch of their huts. Such leaves are also used for making mats and creating fire to cook food etc. The seeds of unripe fruits are very popular as food among the people in general and children particular. The fruit though appears like walnut, but in size it may be bigger than a cricket ball. The soft and epical parts of the leaves are used as substitute for flavoured tea. After ripening of the fruits they are picked up adopting some special techniques, and the sap coming out through xylem tissues is collected for days. This sap is very tasty and used for preparation of molasses and sugar of Nipa palm. The local people sale this molasses and sugar in the near by big villages or small towns. It can be observed that sap of Nipa palm is more sweet and tasty than the sap of Date plant, with higher nutritional value as well. In addition to usage as food, this sap is also widely used in preparation of ethyl alcohol.

The rhizomatus stem of this plant is seen to be used in fishing by the local fishermen. Dry fruit, leaf and other parts of the plant have use in preparation of different types of medicines. A variety of sweets and other food items are prepared with the sweet sap and molasses of Nipa palm. We may admit unhesitatingly that both in direct or indirect usage, Golpata or Nipa palm has immense importance before the local people of Sundarban.

 

Threats

Right now Nipa palm is not identified as a threatened plant, instead the experts in the field express a reverse view. Because of more adaptive power they encroach ecological niche meant for other plants, creating an adverse habitable condition. To be more specific, if by any means they reach over to any part of the tidal delta where they did not exist earlier, Nipa palm can vigorously spread in such places dispelling out the other existing plants.

But it is very difficult to accept the proposition that Nipa palm is not at all in danger. When the entirety of the mangrove forest of Sundarban is under the grip of irrational human greed, this precious plant alone can not remain safe. The same analogy is applicable in other places also where Nipa palm is found to thrive.

Nevertheless, if Nipa palm is put to use in a scientific and sustainable manner, this plant can survive well in Sundarban, providing its benefits to the people, in the sphere of their life and livelihood.

***********