A low scrubby palm. The trunk is largely subterranean; above ground it is covered with the bases of withered leaves which often remain stunted or form twiggy branches growing along the ground. The stiff leaves are about 60cm long and spread out in fans. The ivory-coloured fragrant flowers grow in clusters. The stone fruits are about 25mm long, dark purple to black, with light brown flesh, and grow in bunches, ripening from October to December.

Digestive, diuretic, irritant, respiratory, sedative, stimulant, enhances male sex hormones, tones bladder.

Australian Naturopathic Network
The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

Volatile oil, fixed oil, glucose, about 63 per cent of free acids and 37 per cent of ethyl esters of these acids.

Tones and strengthens male reproductive system, treatment of enlarged prostate glands and infections, bug bite, catarrh, dysentery, gland infections, prostate irritation, snake bite and urethritis.

Bayne CW. Donnelly F. Ross M. Habib FK. Serenoa repens (Permixon): a 5alpha-reductase types I and II inhibitor-new evidence in a coculture model of BPH. Prostate1999 Sep 1;40(4):232-41.