A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON TRADITIONAL TAPPING METHODS OF 'KITUL' OR THE FISH·TAIL PALM (Caryota urens L.)

Abstract

Rural survival depends largely on the wealth or the natural environment. "Kitul" or theFish-tail palm is one or the important species which has been exploited from the wild hythe villagers from the ancient past. Tapping the inllorescence 01" the Kitul tree forcollecting the phloem sap for producing jaggnry, treacle and toddy has he en generatingpractices, among the rural folk in some villages particularly those abutting the naturalforests. The tapping process makes direct use of the transport mechanism of the tree inwhich the assimilates arc moved to the developing organs. The method of tapping differsfro II I "Lice to place. Usually tappers use plant extracts for seasoning the inflorescenceherol,' r.ipping. The purpose of using these various plant extracts is the arresting of thcmaturation of the inflorescence and the increasing of thc sap Ilow. The knowledge 01" theseindigenous tapping practices arc not being handed down the generations and thereforebeing gradually lost. This paper presents the results of a preliminary investigation thetraditional tapping methods of Kitul by the people in villages abutting the Sinharaja forestand the Knuckcls ranges.