Giant raffia palm
Raphia hookeri

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It is often a solitary palm but can also have some suckers. It grows to 10-15 m high. The trunks are 30 cm across. The upper part of the trunk is covered with leaf bases and blackish spiny fibres. The leaves are shiny dark green. They can be 12 m long. The leaves are feather like. The leaflets are rigid. The flowering stalk is 2.5 m long. They hang down. The crown dies after flowering. The flowers are brownish in colour. The fruit are brown and shaped like a top. They are 12 cm long by 5 cm wide. They have a stout beak. They are light brown, hard and shiny. They have overlapping scales.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in swamps. It occurs in lowland rainforest. It suits humid locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The sap from the flower stalk is collected and used for toddy or wine. The stems can be used for starch. The central bud is eaten as a palm cabbage.

It is grown in swampy areas for its many useful products.

Edible parts

Kernel, sap, nuts, seed, fruit, palm heart, cabbage, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

The palm flowers then dies after about 15 years.

Its other names

Local names

Banh, Beunh, Dro bua, Gba'baka, Ivory Coast raphia palm, Ivory Coast raffia palm, Palem anggur, Raffia palm, Wine palm, Yor

Synonyms

Raphia gigantea A. Chev.; Raphia sassandrensis A. Chev.;