Family: Arecaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Oncosperma tigillarium (nibong) is a clustering, spiny palm native to southern Indochina through western Malesia, where it commonly grows in coastal swamps, riverbanks, and other seasonally flooded lowland habitats. It is a tall, multi-stemmed palm recognized by its dense clusters of slender trunks heavily armed with sharp black spines. In its native range, nibong has long been used by local communities for its strong, durable wood-like stems, which are harvested for construction materials such as flooring, framing, thatch supports, and other structural uses. The palm also plays an ecological role in stabilizing wetland and riparian soils in tropical landscapes.

Risks & Threats
Although Oncosperma tigillarium is not currently known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it possesses traits that are cause for concern, including its ability to form dense, spiny thickets, reproduce in wet tropical environments, and tolerate a range of disturbed habitats. These characteristics could allow it to spread and compete with native vegetation in sensitive lowland and wetland ecosystems if introduced. Its dense growth and sharp spines can also hinder access and management in invaded areas, making control difficult once established. Given these potential risks, caution is warranted. When possible, choosing a low-risk or Hawaiian native alternative is recommended to help protect tropical island ecosystems from future invasion threats.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in Tahiti
  
• Spiny trunks
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• May form dense thickets
  
• Able to spread by suckering
  
• Bird-dispersed seeds (Possibly pigs, rats, and mongoose in Hawaii)

Low Risk Traits:

• May only grow in low, humid, tropical conditions
  
• Ornamental Uses
  
• Invasive impacts not documented or unspecified in Tahiti