Have you seen towering Anahaw Palm Trees (Livistona rotundifolia)?

Towering Anahaw Palm Trees 

Living with Nature Center

San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

Dr Abe V Rotor

Rising up to more than fifty feet through the canopy of nearby trees, and into the sky as emergents, these heritage palm trees are a living treasure of the arboretum of the Living with Nature Center. Their trunks are virtually perfect Parthenon columns of nature, the leaves shaped into a huge umbrella. Old leaves remain hanging in the crown drooping like a well-knit skirt, which serves as abode of fruit bats, their sleeping quarters in the day, and working station at night, indeed an ideal home for these unique nocturnal residents of the local ecosystem.

  

  

Anahaw (Livistona rotundifolia or Saribus rotundifolia) is regarded as the Philippine national leaf. Anahaw leaves are also a widespread symbol in the Philippines that is often used in awards and medals to represent high achievement, strength, and loyalty. The Anahaw leaf features a large, round outline and is glossy green in color. Livistona is used as  natural parasol in Malaysia. In Australia.* The young nuts, the size of marble, are picked and eaten in their soft stage.  The rind is trimmed with knife, the inner membrane peeled by hand, and the white soft core finds its way to the palate one after another. It was a popular snack in our time as kids when anahaw abound on the upland and forested areas. Today, Livistona is a threatened species; in fact endangered in many populated areas even on the countryside. 

 

Radially arranged leaves of anahaw are made into shingles for roof thatch, superior in coolness, beauty and durability to the traditional nipa (Nipa frutescens) and cogon (Imperata cyclindrica). In my time, in pre-plastic era, the whole leaf was crafted into free-hanging raincoat (annanga Ilk), an indigenous wear on the farm, and in going to school and market as protection from monsoon rain.  It was worn with woven hats made of the same material, or from leaves of coconut, pandan (Pandanus tectorius) or buri (Corypha elata). Imagine how the outfit looked like, complete with wooden clogs (bakya* or suekos Ilk), and abel shirt and short pants (puruntong) made from cotton.  

* Internet. The Bakyâ or wooden clogs were once the most commonly used footwear in the Philippines before the introduction of rubber sandals.