Borassus akeassii

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A fan palm. It has a single unbranched stem. It grows 15 m tall and the trunk can be 40-50 cm across. The fruit are 15 cm across and are produced in large clusters.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 800-1,100 mm. It needs a sunny position and well drained soil. It can grow in poor soils and tolerate drought.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Congo DR, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sudan, West Africa

How it is used for food

Sap can be extracted from near the top but extracting too much kills the palm. The sap is used to make wine.

Edible parts

Fruit, sap, seeds, seedlings, terminal bud, cabbage

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

It is slow growing but lives for many years.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Borassus aethiopum var. domesticus A. Chev.;