Being well known as `Borasus Flabellifer` to the scientists of the world, the `Palmyra Palm Tree` is a tall and swaying tree. The word `Borasus` derived from a Greek word that describes the leathery covering of the fruit and `Flabellifer` means "fan-bearer." It derived from the `Palme` family. This nice tree bears a lot of names in various languages in India. In the languages of Hindi and Bengali, the tree is called as `Tal`, `Talgachh` and `Tarkajhar`. It is known as `Pannei` in Tamil language. In Telugu, it is `Lulu` or `Tacli`. The people in Malayalam named the tree as `Karimpana`. In English, the tree has some other names except the `Palmyra Palm Tree`. The names are: the `Fan Palm`, `Brab Tree`, `Toddy Palm` and `Tala Palm`. This tree is found in the drier areas of India, Sri Lanka, and Burma and also in most of the tropical countries.

In its ideal condition the `Palmyra Palm Tree` can grow up to the height from 12 to 18 m when it becomes matured. However, in some special occasions, it can achieve the height of 30 m and a diameter of 60 m. The tree can be very easily recognised amongst a gathering of trees by its large and fan-shaped leaves. The stem of the tree is black in colour and looks like cylinders. It is also corrugated by the semi-circular scars of fallen leaves. In the young trees, the dry bases of the leaf stalks remain wavered in a "plaited` manner at the top. The old trees slightly thicken above the middle and their base is always puffed-up by a dense network of root fibres.

The gigantic leaves of the tree spring in a clump from the top. They are usually very tough and bear thick stalks. The leaves are palm-shaped and have the maximum size of 5 m. across. The heaving segments are normally sixty to eighty in number. They remain connected for a part of their length. After that they stretch out like stiff and shining lances, folded along the midribs. The male and female flowers are never contained by one single `Palmyra Palm Tree`. They are held by two different trees. Both the kinds of flowers stay together in the side with branched cover. The male flowers are smaller than the female ones. The female flower sheath bears only a few scattered flowers. You may find the flowers in the tree during the months of March and April and again later in the year.

The flowers of the `Palmyra Palm Tree` are followed by the green circular fruits. The fruits grow in loose clusters at the base of the leaves. Each of them contains three nuts within its fleshy pulp. This tree is considered amongst the most valuable and important of Indian trees. Though India is not the native of this tree, it is now expansively cultivated here. As it has the ability of propagating readily in its suitable regions, it is also found growing wild. The tree has a numerous uses. Almost every part of the tree has some kind of utility. People unanimously employ the hard outer wood to posts, beams and for domestic purposes. However, it does not posse a great strength and iron pins rust swiftly in it. The vacant stem of the `Palmyra Palm Tree` is simply the best for making water pipes. The leaves of the tree itself have a large number of uses. People can make fans, mats, baskets, buckets, hats, umbrellas and sandals from them. They can also be used as a very good thatch. People also enjoy eating the jelly like pulp of the fruit and the soft kernels of young fruit very much. The germinated nuts and their enlarged, fleshy embryos are also cooked and eaten as vegetables. The midribs of the leaves and the fibres from their stalks has the ability to be used in making brushes and people use the net-like material at the base of the young leaf stalks for straining the Toddy and for making into torches as well.

The principal product of the Palmyra is undoubtedly the Arrack or Toddy. This is an exciting drink of the country. It is a sugary juice that makes a tasty and health giving drink when freshly drawn before sunrise. People take this in large doses in the morning and it has a laxative effect. The `Palmyra Palm Tree` has a lot of medicinal uses. If the fresh Toddy is mixed with rice flour and gently heated until it ferments, it makes a precious stimulant poultice. The fruit is popular as aperients and the ash attained after burning the flowers is used in prescriptions for biliousness. The timber of the `Palmyra Palm Tree` varies significantly according to the age and sex of the tree. In the young age, the wood of the tree is soft and it slowly hardens. However, the heartwood remains less hard. The female tree produces much superior wood than that of the male. It has quite a few uses that include making house and veranda posts, water gutters etc.

It can be said without any hesitation that like the Coconut, Bamboo and Banana tree, the Palmyra also posses inestimable value to the people of India. The tree has some religious values as well. Both the Hindus and Buddhists adore this tree because their sacrosanct writings were inscribed on its leaves in olden times. They use the leaves and fruits on their ceremonial occasions by hanging them on doorways and also they use them on marriage `Shamianas`.