Floral Motifs on Early Chintz
Borassus flabellifer - Palmyra Palm
Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) from the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Museum, Palampore (India); cotton; H x W: 365.8 × 266.7 cm (144 × 105 in.); Museum purchase from Restricted Funds; 1968-78-2
Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) from Rheed tot Drakenstein, Hortus Indicus Malabaricus, vol 1, pl. 9, 1678
Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) photo by Andrew Quitmeyer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Common Names: Palmyra Palm, Fan-leaved Borassus, Daub Palm, Tala, Tala Palm, Toddy Palm, Lontar Palm, Wine Palm, Ice Apple
Description: Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) is a member of the Palm Family (Arecaceae). The Hortus Kewensis, vol. 5, p. 394 lists it as native to the East Indies and reports it was introduced to European cultivation in 1771. Identification of this palm was provided by Dr. Robert Read per Alice Baldwin Beer, Trade Goods - A Study of Indian Chintz (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1970), 61.
Quilts with this Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) motif:
Palampore with this Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) motif:
Description: Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) is a member of the Palm Family (Arecaceae). The Hortus Kewensis, vol. 5, p. 394 lists it as native to the East Indies and reports it was introduced to European cultivation in 1771. Identification of this palm was provided by Dr. Robert Read per Alice Baldwin Beer, Trade Goods - A Study of Indian Chintz (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1970), 61.
Quilts with this Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) motif:
- None known at this time
Palampore with this Borassus flabellifer (Palmyra Palm) motif:
- Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Museum, Palampore (India), Acccession Number 1968-78-2, mid to late 18th century
© Updated 8/23/2026 Author: Terry Terrell