Local tribal communities depend on this plant for starch (food supplement) and religious ceremonies.

[4] This is a plant frequently seen in the steep slopes of Western Ghats, from Uttara Kannada to Kanyakumari.

[5] Local tribal communities, such as the Mudhuvans in Idukki, rely on this palm primarily for the starch obtained from its pith and for toddy, which is collected by tapping its inflorescence.

[6] Although the fruit contains needle-like oxalate crystals that cause irritation, it is dehusked and repeatedly boiled to make it suitable for consumption.

The dried starch serves as a food supplement and is also used in the preparation of traditional dishes like kurukk and upuma.

[1] RIYAS Chakkinga Thodi, (2020),A review on the unexplored and underutilized Arenga species in India https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355482043_A_review_on_the_unexplored_and_underutilized_Arenga_species_in_India