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Toko belongs to the family Arecaceae (palmae). This
beautiful palm is found only in the northeast region of India. It is
distributed in the tropical belt and grows in lower plains and hill
slopes. Since time immemorial people have been using this species. It is
extensively used in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is also of great
cultural importance to the people of the state particularly to the
interior and far flung areas.
This multipurpose tree provides different utility items like the leaves,
fibre and fruits. It has great potential of income generation and rural
employment. The silviculture aspects of the plant are discussed in the
following section, which may be useful in farming and management of this
valuable natural resource.
Morphology And Description
This is an unbranched graceful palm attaining a height of 20-30 m at
diameter at breast height. The crown is globose, borne at the tip of the
solitary stem. This palm, unlike other palms does not show the persistent
leaf scars. However, it has a rough surface and are brownish grey in
appearance. Leaves palmately dissected partly and are reniform or oval in
shape, plicate, divided into 70-100 segments (2-15) segments during
seeding stage).
Inflorescences appear axillary and interfoliar, 1-1.5 m long, peduncle
strong flattened, 4-6 m long. The spathe (bract) reddish brown, boat
shaped, hard and striate. The inflorescence is much-branched panicle with
numerous lateral branches. Flowers creamy white/yellow, small, clustered
on tubercles at base, solitary or paired on the distal parts of the
branches (rachilla). Fruits drupe 1.8 - 2.5 cm in diameter, globose,
copper-clue in colour when ripe, Pericarp leathery and fleshy. Seeds
globose, shinning brown with broad Raphael like line, endosperm horny,
whitish. Flowering takes place during the months of February to March and
fruits occur from September to December.
Distribution
The tree is endemic to northeast India and grows upto an elevation of
1100m. It is usually encountered in nature in the tropical evergreen
forests and sub-tropical broad-leaved forests. Through the species is
found in all the districts, the larger concentration is towards the
central and eastern parts of the state particularly in Upper Subsnsiri,
West Siang and East Siang district. Apart from its natural occurrence, it
is largely cultivated the local people in their Jhum/community lands and
village areas. It may also be mentioned that this palm is considered to be
an endangered one and included in the red data book of Indian plants.
Uses
Toko, as mentioned earlier, is a multipurpose tree species of great value
throughout the northeastern states. It is extensively used in the states
of Arunachal Pradesh and
Nagaland . This
plant is very important in the interior far flung areas. In fact it is
almost like the 'Mithun' in importance to the people.
Natural Regeneration
Natural regeneration occurs by means of the seeds. Profuse regeneration
can be seen (as in West Siang district) in the vicinity of nature fruiting
trees along partial open moist slopes. The seeds fallen over ground or
carried over by birds and squirrel lime animals are dropped on soil during
winter months start germination in good habitat with pre-monsoon showers
in April-May and often establish to form plants. However, survival
percentage is very low due to cattle damage and adverse ecological
factors. Despite this, natural regeneration is usually observed as
gregarious patches.
