Oncosperma tigillaria - Nibong

The Plant
The Nibong palm has a nice name, no? Very catchy.
This palm originated from the mangrove swamps.
Researching about it in the older guidebooks, i suspect it was grown as an ornamental feature in parks and gardens - they're attractive in clumps. The newer guidebooks have excluded it. Perhaps their sharp spikes made them too hazardous?

The Pictures
Taken at Macritchie nature reserve.

The Personal-take
I most like how the sun shines from behind the spikes and make them look so quiet, exquisite and... fragile, ironically.
Whilst most plants with thorny parts are "defensive on the outside" but "soft on the inside", the Nibong is reported to have hard wood - used to support kelongs as it can withstand salt water.