Arenga pinnata (Wurmb.) Merr.

Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) is a palm native to Indonesia that can grow up to 30 meters tall, commonly found in humid hills and also distributed in Malaysia, India, and the Philippines. The sap tapped from its flower clusters is processed into palm sugar, flour, and traditional beverages. In addition, various parts of this plant have traditionally been used to address kidney stones, canker sores, and body odor.

Sugar palm grows optimally at elevations of 500-700 m above sea level, with rainfall over 1,200-3,500 mm/year and an air temperature of 20-25 °C. This plant is commonly found in mountainous areas, valleys, near streams, rolling terrain, and forests.

• Roots fibrous, rigid, tough, and fairly thick.
• Trunk solitary, up to 30 m tall, the upper part covered with black fiber ("ijuk"). The pith is soft and fibrous, with a hard exterior.
• Leaves compound, pinnately veined, fan-like in arrangement, up to 5 m long, with a petiole about 1.5 m long.
• Flowers male and female united on a single spadix.
• Fruit a round berry borne in clusters, each stalk bearing about 50 fruits. Contains 2-3 seed kernels, white, coated with a thin, hard shell.

• Propagated generatively (by seed).
• Seeds cleaned of fruit flesh are planted in a nursery medium (2 cm deep).

Saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids (diterpenes), tannins, quinones, ascorbic acid, carotenoids.

Treats kidney stones; acts as an emmenagogue; treats fever, canker sores, constipation; eliminates body odor; treats skin rashes, nosebleeds; strengthens teeth; treats fractures, lower back pain, and intestinal inflammation.

• Select healthy sugar palm roots.
• Remove any adhering debris and wash thoroughly under running water.     
• Dry the material in the sun until completely dry.      
• Store the dried material in plastic or a tightly sealed container.

 Bak juk (Aceh), Paula (Karo), Bagot (Toba), Kawung (Sunda), Seho (Manado).