Common Name: American Oil Palm

General Information

Elaeis oleifera is a large, single-stemmed, pinnate-leaved, evergreen palm growing 6 metres or more tall. The unbranched stem can be 40cm in diameter; it is topped by a crown of large, arching leaves. It has dense clusters of crowded flowers and bright red fruit[, ].
The plant is commonly exploited from the wild as a source of oil; it also has local medicinal uses. It is occasionally cultivated for its oil-bearing seeds and fruits[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - northern Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Honduras.

Habitat

More or less open forest in moist, sandy soils that are often poorly drained[]. Low-lying wet areas along the sides of rivers and streams, often persisting in cleared areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	4.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland, moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 510 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 14 - 34°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of 8°c or lower[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,400 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 700 - 3,500mm[].
Plants grow well in full sun, even when small[]. Requires a humus-rich, well-drained soil, but is not fussy as to soil type[, , ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.3[].
A slow growing tree[].
Plants can commence bearing just 3 years after the seed has germinated[].
The plant produces both male and female flowers, but not usually at the same time. An individual inflorescence will be all male or all female flowers; after a series of inflorescences of one sex the plant will then produce a series of inflorescences of the opposite sex[].

Edible Uses

Oil - two types of oil are obtained from the plant. Palm oil is obtained from the fruit whilst palm kernel oil is obtained from the seed[]. Both have a wide range of uses, including making margarine, ice cream and as a cooking oil[].

Medicinal

The oil obtained from the pulp is applied externally in the treatment of rheumatism, to invigorate hair growth, combat dandruff and to repel insects[].

Hairs from the leaf axils are said to be haemostatic[].

Other Uses

Oil - two types of oil are obtained from the plant. Palm oil is obtained from the fruit whilst palm kernel oil is obtained from the seed[]. These oils contain a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids[]. Both have a wide range of uses, including making soaps, detergents, shampoos, cosmetics, hair creams, lubricating oil, additives and fluxes[, ].
The oil can be applied to the body as an insect repellent[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak 24 hours in warm water and sow in containers. Germination takes place in 2 - 5 months[].

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