Northern Raphia palm
Raphia sudanica

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It has a stout trunk 2-3 m tall. It can be 10 m tall. The fronds are 12 m long. The young fronds have a yellow stalk. The leaflets are armed with spines on the veins and edges. The fruit are top shaped and dark red when ripe.

It is used for a range of purposes in Nigeria.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in swamps. It grows in drier locations than other Raphia species.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, West Africa

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. The stem is tapped as wine.

It is grown in plantations in Nigeria.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, sap, cabbage, palm heart

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ichoor, Ivory Coast wine palm

Synonyms

Raphia bandamensis A. Chev.;