Common Name:

General Information

Raphia sudanica is an evergreen palm with a stout stem 2 - 3 metres or more tall. The stem is topped by a rosette of leaves that can each be 12 metres or more long. The plant suckers and can form impenetrable thickets of large extent[].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It has sometimes been cultivated, especially in Nigeria[].
The species is widespread in western Africa. It is, however, widely exploited and its habitat is also threatened by many activities, including the loss of wetlands for crop farming and drought. The level of harvesting is increasing and the population is believed to be decreasing (at an unknown rate). More information is needed on the population decline and impacts of threats before the species can be fully assessed, it may be Near Threatened or Least Concern. The plant is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria, Cameroon and Congo.

Habitat

Wet ground in swamps and by rivers in savannah regions[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Data Deficient
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A monocarpic plant - growing for several years without flowering, then producing a massive inflorescence and dying after setting seed[].

Edible Uses

The plant is tapped for its sap, which is fermented to make an alcoholic beverage[, ].

The yellow, oily pulp below the outer scales is eaten and is also a source of oil used for cooking[].

Medicinal

The frond and midrib are used medicinally[]. This is likely to be in the treatment of blood disorders similar to the use of Raphia palma-pinus[].

Other Uses

An oil obtained from the fruit pulp is used as a dressing for the hair[].

The mid-ribs of the leaf fronds have a wide range of uses, being employed in house construction, as canoe paddles, poles, furniture etc.

Although spiny, the leaf segments are used for weaving and plaiting into mats and baskets[].

Propagation

Seed -

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