Common Name: Raffia Palm

General Information

Raffia palm is an evergreen, clumping palm producing unbranched stems up to 10 metres tall and 60cm in diameter. A rosette of huge leaves that can be 20 metres long grow out of the top of the stem. Individual stems only flower once, usually when around 20 - 30 years old, and then die, though a new stem is normally formed from the roots[, ].
Mainly gathered from the wild, the plant has a wide range of uses and is very important to the local people where it grows in Africa[]. It is also the prime source of raffia, much used in basket making etc[]. The plant is cultivated in Nigeria, Madagascar and India, and is also semi-cultivated in several areas of Africa[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Cameroon; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar.

Habitat

Moist, swampy ground[]. Riverine and groundwater forest[]. Gallery forests, freshwater swamp forest, along river banks and in the western shoreline forests of Lake Victoria, at elevations from sea level to 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics, it is able to succeed in subtropical areas. Plants succeed in moist tropical climates where temperatures never fall below 10°c, the average annual rainfall is 1,500mm or more and the driest month has 25mm or more rain[].
Requires a sunny position in a wet soil[].
A monocarpic plant - growing for several years without flowering, then producing a massive inflorescence and dying after setting seed[].

Edible Uses

The sap from the trunk is fermented to make palm wine[, ]. It is also used to make a sweet beverage[]. The sap can be obtained either by cutting down the trunk and allowing the sap to drain out, or by boring a hole in the trunk near the apex[].

An edible starch is obtained from the stem[, ].

Fruit - boiled and eaten[, ].

An oil is obtained from the fruit[]. The boiled fruit pulp yields a yellow fat known as raphia butter - it has a good taste when fresh[]. The fruits are crushed, water is added and the mixture boiled then left to cool. The floating oil is then skimmed off and used in cooking[]..

The seed is edible[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Raffia, which is widely used in weaving to make baskets, mats etc, is obtained from the leaflets of this plant[].
The large midribs of the leaves, and the leaf stalks, are widely used by native people to construct the framework of houses, as poles for various uses and for making into furniture[]. They can be split into strips for weaving into mats, baskets etc[].

The leaves are used for thatching and weaving baskets, mats and hats[].
The fibres obtained from the leaves are used as tying material and for weaving mats, hoods, bags, curtains etc[].
The tough fibre (known as piassava) obtained from the leaf sheaths, is used for making brooms[]. A tough rope can also be made from this fibre[].
The fibre is derived from the cuticle of the leaves, which are harvested before fully expanded and peeled upon both sides. The thin strips of fibrous material thus obtained are afterwards divided into narrower strips by a kind of comb, according to the purpose for which they are to be used. It appears as flat, straw-coloured strips, about 12 - 18mm wide and from 90 - 120cm long. It is capable of being divided into fine threads. It can be used for delicately plaited goods, hats, mats for covering lloors, and for wrapping up goods. The loose strips are extensively used in place of Russian bast or tie bands by gardeners and nurserymen. More recently it has been woven into superior matting, tastefully coloured, and used instead of tapestry for covering walls in London houses[].
The preparation of raffia is one of the most extensive industries in Madagascar. The men cut the palm leaves in the forests and bring them home for the women to complete the work. The fibre is cured the same day i t is stripped[] Among its native uses may be mentioned cordage and fishing nets[].

Raphia wax, which is derived from the lower surface of the leaves, is used as a polish for boats and floors or is utilized for the production of candles[].

The oil extracted from the boiled fruit pulp and the kernels of the fruits is used for the production of soap and stearin[].

The shells of the fruits are made into snuffboxes or buttons[].

Wood - used for construction[]. The wood can be used after the sap has been allowed to drain[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and sow in containers. The seed requires several months to germinate[].

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