Etaeis guineensis

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  • Herbarium No: UPH NO. V--960
  • Etaeis guineensis
  • Jacq.
  • Botanical Name/Scientific Name: Etaeis guineensis
  • Genus: Elaeis
  • Synonym: Etaeis guineensis var. compressa Becc.
  • Common/Local Name(s): African Oil Palm or Oil Palm.
  • Family: Palmae
  • Botanical Description: Etaeis guineensis is a tall palm that can grow up to 20-30 meters (66-98 feet) in height. The trunk is straight and cylindrical, covered with old leaf bases. The leaves are pinnate, reaching up to 3-5 meters (10-16 feet) in length. Each leaf consists of numerous leaflets arranged along a central rachis. The plant is monoecious, meaning it has separate male and female flowers on the same plant. The inflorescences are large, branched clusters that emerge from the axils of the leaves. The fruit is a reddish-orange drupe, borne in large, dense clusters. Each fruit contains a single seed (kernel) surrounded by a fleshy mesocarp, which is rich in oil.
  • Flowering/Fruiting: palm can flower year-round
  • Plant Uses: Palm Oil Production, Byproducts & Traditional Uses.
  • Origin: Introduced
  • Locality: University of Port Harcourt Botanical Garden Abuja Campus.
  • Habit: Tree
  • Mode: Cultivated

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