Common Name: Bankoualé Palm

General Information

Livistona carinensis is a solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm tree with a straight, unbranched stem up to 40 metres tall and up to 40cm in diameter. The stem is topped by a dense, globose crown of 30 - 40 fan-shaped leaves with petioles up to 125cm long and leaf blades 80 - 95cm wide[].
The plant has been harvested in quantitiy in the past for local use mainly of its wood and leaves. Where stands remain it is still commonly harvested and so action needs to be taken to ensure that any future harvesting can be sustainable.
Livistona carinensis is feared to have been extirpated in Somalia due to unsustainable harvesting for timber and the loss of habitats due to expansion of date palm plantations. Excluding Somalia, the species is estimated to occur in no more than 3 - 5 threat-defined locations. Over the last 60 years (three generations), it is inferred that the global population of mature individuals has declined by at least 50%. The species does not occur in any effectively protected area and conservation actions are urgently needed. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Northeast Africa to Arabia - Djibouti, northern Somalia and southern Yemen

Habitat

In or adjacent to intermittently flowing streams or soaks in valley bottoms, but never in fully dry soils; at elevations from 200 - 975 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Livistona carinensis is native to semi-arid regions of the tropics with rainfall less than 400mm per annum, though it is always found in areas where there can be access to undersurface moisture[].

Edible Uses

The palm is reported to be a source of palm wine, the sap is stored and transformed into alcohol or vinegar[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are used for thatching[].
The leaves of young plants are used in basketry and for making mats[].

The trunk is commonly used for house building, drainage pipes etc[]. A high quality, termite-resistant timber[].
The wood makes a good fuelwood[].

Propagation

Seed - fresh seeds germinate rapidly if there is moisture available[].

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