African Fan Palm, Palmyra Palm

Borassus aethiopum

Physical Characteristics

Borassus aethiopum is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - semi-arid and sub-humid zones of Senegal to Somalia, south to S. Africa.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Oil Sap Seed Shoots Edible Uses: Drink Oil Sweetener Edible portion: Fruit, Cabbage, Sap, Seeds, Palm heart, Vegetable. Fruit - fresh or dried[ 335 ]. Slightly sweet, but with a mild turpentine-like flavour[ 398 ]. The fruits have a large, fibrous pulp, weighing around 500g each, that smells strongly of turpentine[ 418 ]. They are consumed raw or cooked, preferably with rice[ 418 ]. Eaten as a food supplement[ 325 ]. Rich in oil[ 301 ]. The ripe, fallen fruit are collected, peeled and the juicy pulp is squeezed in water to form a solution which is added to porridge during cooking in order to improve the flavour[ 398 ]. The fruit is 15cm in diameter and is produced in large clusters[ 335 ]. The immature seed contains a sweet juice which can be drunk like coconut water[ 301 , 335 ]. As it matures, it solidifies becoming jelly-like and eventually solid. It can be eaten at all stages, the flavour gradually becoming more nut-like[ 301 ]. Young seedlings - eaten as a vegetable like asparagus[ 317 ]. Highly esteemed[ 301 ]. The mature seeds can be buried in pits and allowed to germinate, and the shoots are said to be a delicacy[ 418 ]. The tuberous portion of the first juvenile leaves are rich in starch - they make a highly prized vegetable[ 774 ]. Apical bud and young leaves - raw or cooked[ 301 , 317 ]. Eaten in salads, or used as a vegetable[ 301 ]. Eating this bud leads to the eventual death of the plant since it is unable to produce side shoots[ K ]. The sap is extracted from the stem. Rich in sugars, it can be made into a refreshing beverage, fermented to make palm wine (toddy) or vinegar, or the sugars can be extracted[ 301 , 317 , 335 ]. The tip of the trunk is cut and excavated so that a bowl-shaped depression is made where sap accumulates. The sap is then collected and slightly fermented into a refreshing drink[ 398 ]. Destructive harvesting is sometimes employed, where the cut is renewed twice every day for 3 - 4 weeks until the tree is exhausted and dies[ 303 ]. Chemical composition: Protein (crude) = 2.8% (dry). Fat = 0.5% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 3.5% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 16.8% (dry). Amino acids (g (16g N)-1): Aspartic acid = 9.3g. Threonine = 3.6g. Serine = 3.9g. Glutamic acid = 8.9g. Proline = 5.0g. Glycine = 5.0g. Alanine = 5.0g. Valine = 5.0g. Cysteine = 0.1g. Methionine = 1.2g. Isoleucine = 3.6g. Leucine = 6.1g. Tyrosine = 2.8g. Phenylalanine = 3.6g. Lysine = 3.9g. Histidine = 2.1g. Arginine = 2.4g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.04% (dry). Potassium = 0.09% (dry). Magnesium = 0.10% (dry). Calcium = 0.08% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). Zinc = 4 mg/kg (dry). Iron = 488 mg/kg (dry). Manganese = 8 mg/kg (dry). Copper = 2 mg/kg (dry).

Medicinal Uses

Anthelmintic Antiasthmatic Aphrodisiac Mouthwash The roots serve for the treatment of stomach parasites, bronchitis, sore throats and asthma, as well as being used for a mouthwash[ 325 ]. The leaves are said to be an aphrodisiac[ 325 ]. The sap is reported to have many uses[ 325 ].

Known Hazards

Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling