Wallichia oblongifolia Griff.

Stems clustered, short and subterranean or to 1 m tall, to 40 cm in diam. Leaves spirally arranged; petioles to 2 m; rachis 1.5-2.5 m; pinnae 16 or 17 per side of rachis, ± oblong, with several lobes, regularly and alternately arranged, spreading in same plane, proximal 2 or 3 pinnae in a cluster, smallest erect; middle pinnae 45-56 × 7-12 cm, widest near apex. Inflorescences unisexual, male and female borne on separate stems; male inflorescences pendulous, not seen in their entirety; rachillae many, at least to 12 cm; male flowers 7-10 mm; stamens 6; female inflorescences to 1 m, horizontally spreading; rachillae 16-32, to 35 cm; female flowers to 6 mm. Fruits greenish brown to reddish, ovoid to ellipsoid, to 1.5 × 0.8 cm.

A tropical plant. It grows in the Himalayas up to 1,600 m above sea level. It suits a warm, sheltered moist site. In Yunnan.

The stems are used for the preparation of an intoxicating drink. Starch is extracted from the stems and used as a famine food.

Can be grown by seedlings.