Taxon:  Nypa fruticans Wurmb



Summary
Genus:
Nypa
Family:
Arecaceae (alt. Palmae)
Subfamily:
Nypoideae
Nomen number:
25449
Place of publication:
Verh. Batav. Genootsch. Kunsten 1:350.  1781
Verified:
04/27/1995 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
9 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Nipa fruticans Thunb.
Nypa arborescens Wurmb ex H. Wendl., nom. inval.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Fruit

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  2. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  3. Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
  4. DeFilipps, R. A. 1992. Ornamental garden plants of the Guianas Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
  5. Duke, J. A. 1989. Handbook of Nuts CRC Press.
  6. Flach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:133-137.
  7. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  8. Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
  9. Hackett, C. & J. Carolane. 1982. Edible Horticultural Crops Academic Press. Note: = Nipa
  10. Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
  11. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  12. Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
  13. Kunkel, G. 1984. Plants for human consumption
  14. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  15. Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
  16. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  17. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  18. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  19. Sunderland, T. C. H. & T. Morakinyo. 2002. Nypa fruticans, a weed in West Africa. Palms (1999+) 46:154-155.
  20. Tamunaidu, P. & S. Saka. 2011. Chemical characterization of various parts of nipa palm (Nypa fruticans). Industr. Crops Prod. 34:1423-1428. DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2011.04.020.
  21. Teo, S. et al. 2010. The status and distribution of the nipah palm, Nypa fruticans Wurmb (Arecaceae), in Singapore. Nature Singapore 3:45-52.
  22. Tsuji, K. et al. 2016. Genetic diversity and geographical differentiation of nipa (Nypa fruticans Wirmb.) populations in Peninsular Malaysia based on AFLP. Japan Agric. Res. Quart. 50:49-56.
  23. Uhl, N. W. & J. Dransfield. 1987. Genera palmarum: a classification of palms based on the work of Harold E. Moore, Jr.
  24. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishmangrove palm  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Englishnipa  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Englishnipa palm  1Hackett, C. & J. Carolane. 1982. Edible Horticultural Crops Academic Press. Note: = Nipa
Frenchpalmier d'eau  2Flach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:133-137.
Frenchpalmier nipa  2Flach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:133-137.
GermanAtappalme  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Indonesiannipah  2Flach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:133-137.
Portuguese (Brazil)palmeira-do-mangue  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)palmeira-nipa  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Swedishnipapalm  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaHainan Sheng Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TemperateEastern AsiaJapanRyukyu Islands Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndia  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentSri Lanka  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaCambodia  Tsuji, K. et al. 2016. Genetic diversity and geographical differentiation of nipa (Nypa fruticans Wirmb.) populations in Peninsular Malaysia based on AFLP. Japan Agric. Res. Quart. 50:49-56.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaLaos  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaMyanmar  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaThailand  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaVietnam  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaIndonesia  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaMalaysia  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaPhilippines  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAsia-TropicalMalesiaSingapore  Teo, S. et al. 2010. The status and distribution of the nipah palm, Nypa fruticans Wurmb (Arecaceae), in Singapore. Nature Singapore 3:45-52.
1NativeAsia-TropicalPapuasiaSolomon Islands  Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaNorthern Territory Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
1NativeAustralasiaAustraliaAustraliaQueensland Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
4NaturalizedAfricaSouth Tropical AfricaAngola  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
4NaturalizedAfricaWest Tropical AfricaGhana  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
4NaturalizedAfricaWest Tropical AfricaMauritania  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
4NaturalizedAfricaWest Tropical AfricaNigeria  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
4NaturalizedAfricaWest Tropical AfricaSenegal  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
4NaturalizedAfricaWest Tropical AfricaSierra Leone  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
4NaturalizedAfricaWest-Central Tropical AfricaEquatorial Guinea  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
4NaturalizedAfricaWest-Central Tropical AfricaGabon  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCaribbeanTrinidad and Tobago  Teo, S. et al. 2010. The status and distribution of the nipah palm, Nypa fruticans Wurmb (Arecaceae), in Singapore. Nature Singapore 3:45-52.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaCentral AmericaPanama  Teo, S. et al. 2010. The status and distribution of the nipah palm, Nypa fruticans Wurmb (Arecaceae), in Singapore. Nature Singapore 3:45-52.
6OtherAfricaWest Tropical AfricaNigeria introduced for control of coastal erosionTamunaidu, P. & S. Saka. 2011. Chemical characterization of various parts of nipa palm (Nypa fruticans). Industr. Crops Prod. 34:1423-1428. DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2011.04.020.
Native
Asia-Temperate
  • CHINA: China [Hainan Sheng]
  • EASTERN ASIA: Japan [Ryukyu Islands]
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Sri Lanka
  • PAPUASIA: Solomon Islands
  • INDO-CHINA: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
  • MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia [Queensland, Northern Territory]
Naturalized
Africa
  • WEST-CENTRAL TROPICAL AFRICA: Gabon, Equatorial Guinea
  • WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Ghana, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone
  • SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Angola
Southern America
  • CARIBBEAN: Trinidad and Tobago
  • CENTRAL AMERICA: Panama
Other
Africa
  • WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Nigeria (introduced for control of coastal erosion)

Reference(s)
  1. Hnatiuk, R. J. 1990. Census of Australian vascular plants. Australian Flora and Fauna Series No. 11.
  2. Jian, S. et al. 2010. Low genetic variation detected within the widespread mangrove species Nypa fruticans (Palmae) from Southeast Asia. Aquatic Bot. 92:23-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2009.09.003. Note: this study reports genetic diversity of six natural populations in China,Thailand and Vietnam using SSR and ISSR markers
  3. Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
  4. Tamunaidu, P. & S. Saka. 2011. Chemical characterization of various parts of nipa palm (Nypa fruticans). Industr. Crops Prod. 34:1423-1428. DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2011.04.020.
  5. Teo, S. et al. 2010. The status and distribution of the nipah palm, Nypa fruticans Wurmb (Arecaceae), in Singapore. Nature Singapore 3:45-52.
  6. Tsuji, K. et al. 2016. Genetic diversity and geographical differentiation of nipa (Nypa fruticans Wirmb.) populations in Peninsular Malaysia based on AFLP. Japan Agric. Res. Quart. 50:49-56.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Food additivessweetenerpotentialKunkel, G. 1984. Plants for human consumption
Food additivessweetenerpotentialFlach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:133-137.
Fuelspetroleum substitute/alcoholpotentialUhl, N. W. & J. Dransfield. 1987. Genera palmarum: a classification of palms based on the work of Harold E. Moore, Jr.
Fuelspetroleum substitute/alcoholpotentialFlach, M. & F. Rumawas, eds. 1996. Plants yielding non-seed carbohydrates. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 9:133-137.
Materialscanefor production of palm shinglesUhl, N. W. & J. Dransfield. 1987. Genera palmarum: a classification of palms based on the work of Harold E. Moore, Jr.
Materialsfiberfor production of palm shinglesUhl, N. W. & J. Dransfield. 1987. Genera palmarum: a classification of palms based on the work of Harold E. Moore, Jr.
Weed  Moudingo, J-H. et al. 2020. Chapter 3. Distribution, devastating effect, and drivers of the exotic mangrove Nypa fruticans van Wurmb (Arecaceae) on the mangroves of West and Central Africa. In: Patra, J. K. et al., Biotechnological utilization of mangrove resources. 49-78. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819532-1.00003-2.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=25449. Accessed 12 May 2026.