Thatch palm
Raphia palma-pinus

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

Raphia palma-pinus or Thatch palm is a tropical palm about 2-3m tall that develops suckers and forms clump. The fronds are yellowish-green and not shiny. Edible parts are the fruit, seeds, sap, and palm heart. It is known for other names such as Apel, Batata, Befen, Dahare, Dara, Darre, Mambampa-tara, Tara, and Tarra.

Raphia palma-pinus is an evergreen Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 10

Where it is found

Wet swamps, either fresh or slightly brackish, near the coast. Often behind mangrove swamps. Lowland swamp and riparian palm, often associated with shady conditions and extremely high rain fall.

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Gambia, Cameroon, Congo, northern Angola.

Conservation Status: Status: Data Deficient

Countries/locations it is found in

Benin; Burkina Faso; Côte d'Ivoire; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Mali; Senegal; Sierra Leone, Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Senegal, West Africa,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

The frond and petiole are used as a medicine to treat blood disorders.

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses: The plant is a commercial source of piassava, the base of the petiole for a length of 100cm being retted and split to form hard fibres. The mid-ribs of the leaves are used to make poles and are made into household furnishings such as chairs and beds. The fronds are used extensively as thatch.

Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Thatching: Used for making thatched roofs.

How it is grown

A monocarpic plant - growing for several years without flowering, then producing a massive inflorescence and dying after setting seed.

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Apel, Batata, Befen, Dahare, Dara, Darre, Mambampa-tara, Tara, Tarra,

Synonyms

Sagus palma-pinus Gaertn. Raphia gaertneri G.Mann & H.Wendl. Raphia gracilis Becc.