American oil palm
Elaeis oleifera

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm with a creeping trunk. It extends for several metres before turning upright. The erect trunk is about 2-4 m high. The trunk is covered with the remains of the leaf bases and spiny leaf stalks. The leaves are about 4 m long. The leaflets are often about 1 m long. The fruit are dark orange. They are in congested heads. They are 2-3 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. The fruit have oily flesh.

There are 2 Elaeis species.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical locations. Plants required plenty of water. It can grow in flooded conditions. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, SE Asia, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The oil is extracted from the fruit for cooking.

Edible parts

Fruit - oil

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Batana, Caiaue, Coquito, Corozo, Kelapa sawit amerika, Murisi, Noli, Palmiche, Sabana obe, Ujun

Synonyms

Alfonsia oleifera Kunth; Corozo oleifera (Kunth) L. H. Bailey; Elaeis melanococca Mart.; Elaeis melanococca var. semicircularis Oersted;