Borassus aethiopum

Borassus aethiopum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Borassus
Species: B. aethiopum
Binomial name
Borassus aethiopum
Mart.

Borassus aethiopum is a species of Borassus palm from Africa. In English it is variously referred to as African fan palm, African palmyra palm, deleb palm, ron palm, toddy palm, black rhun palm, ronier palm (from the French) and other names. It is widespread across much of tropical and southern Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia to Zimbabwe, and also grows in Madagascar and the Comoros.[1][2]

Description

Borassus aethiopum grows swelling, solitary trunks to 25 metres (82 ft) in height and 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) in diameter at the base. The green leaves — 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide — are carried on petioles — 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) long — which are armed with spines. The crownshaft is spherical to 7 metres (23 ft) wide, the leaves are round with stiff leaflets, segmented a third or half-way to the petiole. In male plants the flower is small and inconspicuous; females grow larger, 2 centimetres (0.79 in) flowers which produce yellow to brown fruit resembling the coconut containing up to 3 seeds.[3]

Uses

The tree has many uses: the fruit are edible, as are the tender roots produced by the young plant;[4] fibres can be obtained from the leaves; and the wood (which is reputed to be termite-proof) can be used in construction.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Borassus aethiopum
  2. ↑ AFPD. 2008. African Flowering Plants Database - Base de Donnees des Plantes a Fleurs D'Afrique.
  3. ↑ Martius, Carl Friedrich Philipp von. 1838. Historia Naturalis Palmarum 3(7): 220–221, Borassus aethiopum
  4. ↑  "Deleb palm". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
  5. ↑ Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.

External links

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