15 QUARTERMASTER CORPS 



c. In times of real emergency portions of the starch-bearing 

 softer inner parts of these palm trunks may be cut into pieces 

 which are then roasted or even boiled, after which the starch 

 can be "chewed out" of the fibrous mass that forms the inner 

 parts of the trunk. Its food value is high. 



d. In general the terminal bud or "cabbage" of most palms 

 Is edible and may be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted. This 

 palm "cabbage," except in those cases where it may be too 

 bitter, is an excellent vegetable. This hud or "cabbage" is 

 the actual growing tip of the trunk and is found deep in the 

 terminal crown of leaf stalk bases. 



e. In the climbing rattan palms (par. 16c), which are 

 particularly abundant in the high forests and of which there 

 are many different species, the terminal bud or "cabbage" is 

 edible; in many species the lower foot or so of the small 

 trunk contains considerable amounts of starch. In cases 

 of emergency these lower parts may be cut off, roasted over 

 a fire, and the starch then "chewed out." The abundant 

 small fruits of some of the species may be eaten, but the pulp 

 is acid and scanty. 



/. Very excellent, clear, tasteless or nearly tasteless drink- 

 ing water may be obtained from the very long stems of the 

 rattan palms. Cut the stems into about 6- to 8-foot lengths 

 and hold these upright; the water will flow in a small stream 

 from the lower end. In a short time the flow will stop and 

 when this happens cut about a foot off the top end, and the 

 flow will commence again. Repeat until all of the water is 

 obtained. The rattan palms are all high climbers, mostly 

 very spiny on the leaf stalks and leaves and with long slender 

 whiplike spiny appendages, the spines forming characteristic 

 sharp claws. The very long slender stems are smooth and of 

 the same diameter throughout. The stems vary from 10 or 15 

 feet to several hundred feet in length. 



g. Except for the coconut palm and a very few others, the 

 fruits of most of the Old World palm species are not edible. 

 In fact, those of Arenga and Caryota are very dangerous as 

 they are charged with myriads of minute needle-shaped 

 stinging crystals that cause intense pain when in contact 

 with nose or mouth or even the tender skin. Warning: In 

 testing palm fruits as to edibility, try only a very small quan- 



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