Editing Sago (section)

===Palm sago===
[[File:Sago Palm being harvested for Sago production PNG.jpg|right|thumb|A sago palm being harvested for sago production]]
[[File:Sago logs.jpg|thumb|Sago logs ready for processing in Kampung Medong, [[Sarawak]], [[Malaysia]].]]
The sago palm, ''[[Metroxylon sagu]]'', is found in tropical lowland forest and freshwater swamps across [[Southeast Asia]] and [[New Guinea]] and is the primary source of sago. It tolerates a wide variety of soils and may reach 30 meters in height (including the leaves). Several other species of the genus ''Metroxylon'', particularly ''[[Metroxylon salomonense]]'' and ''[[Metroxylon amicarum]]'', are also used as sources of sago throughout [[Melanesia]] and [[Micronesia]].

Sago palms grow very quickly, in clumps of different ages similar to bananas, one sucker matures, then flowers and dies. It is replaced by another sucker, with up to 1.5&nbsp;m of vertical stem growth per year. The stems are thick and are either self-supporting or have a moderate climbing [[Habit (biology)|habit]]; the leaves are [[pinnate]]. Each palm trunk produces a single [[inflorescence]] at its tip at the end of its life. Sago palms are harvested at the age of 7–15 years, just before or shortly after the inflorescence appears and when the stems are full of starch stored for use in reproduction. One palm can yield 150–300&nbsp;kg of starch.

[[File:Sago starch filter PNG.jpg|right|thumb|A sago starch filter]]
Sago is extracted from ''Metroxylon'' palms by splitting the stem lengthwise and removing the pith which is then crushed and kneaded to release the starch before being washed and strained to extract the starch from the fibrous residue. The raw starch suspension in water is then collected in a settling container.