African Doum Palm
Hyphaene compressa

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A tall branched palm. It can have 2-4 main stems and these can branch 4 or 5 times. It grows 20 m high. The leaf colour is mostly deep green. It can be silvery or bluish-green. The fruit are oblong or pear shaped. They are orange or light brown. The smell like gingerbread when broken open.

There are about 9 or 10 Hyphaene species. (Some authorities estimate 40). They are tropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on the coast and extends inland along streams and rivers. It grows to 1500 m altitude in East Africa. They need full sun. They can grow on poor soils and survive in drier climates. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall of 200-900 mm. It is salt tolerant. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, North Africa, Somalia, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania

How it is used for food

The pulp of the ripe fruit is eaten raw. The juice of young fruit is drunk. It is also used for making beer. The outer coat of the fruit is removed from the seed and dried, ground, mixed with blood and eaten. The kernel from inside the nut is eaten. The young germinating seedling is dug up and the embryo eaten.

The fruit are especially liked by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, sap, seedlings, nuts, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. The pulp is removed. Seeds are slow to germinate and can be improved by breaking the hard seed coat. They should be planted in deep moist sand.

It is slow growing. In Tanzania fruit are collect during the dry season.

Its other names

Local names

Annui, Baar, Eng'oli, Ilala, Kihogolo, Kone, Kulidhe, Kweche, Likweta, Mkoche, Mkoma, Mlala, Mukoma, Mulala, Muruguyu, Olmoroket, Qoone

Synonyms

Hyphaene mangoides Becc.; Hyphaene multiformis Becc. subsp. compressa (H. Wendl.) Becc.; Hyphaene thebaica;