The Majestic Talipot

The talipot (Corypha umbraculifera) is a giant fanpalm that resembles the more familiar palmyra (Borassus flabellifer) of the drier northern parts of the country. Unlike the palmyra, the talipot does not grow in stands but naturally in the Wet and Intermediate Zones of the country.

No description of this palm is possible without the use of superlatives. It is truly enormous with circular, fan-shaped leaves each growing to more than 6m in diameter, and a straight, thick trunk growing to a height of more than 25m at maturity. The handsome crown of the tree is of truly epic proportions and the flower or inflorescence is thought to be the largest in the world.

However, it is not because of its sheer size and grandeur that the talipot has become an important palm. Rather it is inextricably linked with the cultural identity and history of this island, which is why it is also known as the "ola leaf palm". This is because all of the pre-colonial writing of this country, other than inscriptions on rock faces, stone tablets and pillars, was carried out on ola leaves.

All the important texts of Buddhism, as well as those of Ayurveda and Sinhala medicine, and all other historic literary works, were written in ola books made from the leaves of the talipot. Many ola books from this two-millennia tradition of writing have survived, while many have been spirited away in recent decades and are today scattered far from their homeland and out of cultural context.

In the preparation of an ola book, mature leaves of the palm are cut to a desired length. The broad section between the leaf rachis (the axis of a compound leaf or frond, corresponding to the midrib of a simple leaf) is chosen for this. Once cured and treated so as to become pliant, a pointed metal stylus is used to inscribe the letters on the leaves, and lamp soot mixed with a gummy substance rubbed in to fill the groves and bring out the writing.

These individual leaves or pages are perforated at both ends, cords passed through them, and then the whole sheaf is tied together between decorative and protective wooden covers. The ola is opened and read as a loose-leaved book secured by the cords.

The first outsider to mention the talipot was Robert Knox, the famous 17th century captive of Rajasinghe II, the king of Kandy. In fact Knox seems to have been fascinated with this palm. He was sufficiently impressed with it that he carried an 'umbrella' or weather shield made from a talipot palm-leaf back to England.

The following description from his book An Historical Relation of the Island of Ceylon (1681) makes for interesting reading: "The first is the Talipot.

It is as big and tall as a Ship's Mast, and very straight, bearing only leaves: which are of great use and benefit to this People; one single leaf being so broad and large, that it will cover some 15 to 20 men, and keep them dry when it rains. The leaf being dried is very strong and limber and most wonderfully made for men's convenience to carry along with them; for though this leaf be thus broad when it is open, yet it will fold close like a ladies fan, and then it is no bigger than a man's arm.

"They lay them upon their heads as they travel with the peaked end foremost, which is convenient to make their way thro' the Boughs and thickets. When the sun is vehemently hot they use them to shade themselves from the heat. Soldiers all carry them; for besides the benefit of keeping them dry in case it rain upon the march, these leaves make their tents to lie under in the Night".

Today the many uses of talipot leaves are barely known and seldom required. Occasionally, though, it is still possible to see talipot plam-leaf 'umbrellas' still being used by Buddhist monks, mainly those from aranyas or forest monasteries.

Ola leaves from talipot palms are still used widely for casting and writing the horoscopes of individuals. These giant palms majestically stand out from their green backdrop and are hard to miss.

The talipot blooms towards the very end of its life, and in its last year produces beautiful flowers followed by clusters of round, hard seeds. The stunning bloom of the talipot palm is one of the natural world's most unforgettable sights.

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