Palmyra sprouts are cultivated in the states of Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India, and in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. In Tamilnadu, they are most common in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram Districts. The seeds are planted and once they germinate the fleshy stems are harvested from below the surface. They are boiled or roasted and eaten. They are very fibrous and nutritious.
They are known as Panai Kizhangu or Panamkizhangu (பனம் கிழங்கு) in Tamil and Thegalu (తేగలు), Gẽgulu (గేఁగులు), or Gengulu (గెంగులు) in Telugu.