African Oil Palm

Elaeis guineensis

Physical Characteristics

Elaeis guineensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) 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. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Distribution

Tropical west and central Africa - Sierra Leone to Uganda and Kenya, south to Angola and Mozambique.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Apical bud Oil Sap Seed Edible Uses: Drink Oil Edible portion: Seeds, Cabbage, Fruit, Palm heart, Sap, Vegetable, Seeds - oil. Oil - two types of oil are obtained from the plant. Palm oil is obtained from the fruit whilst palm kernel oil is obtained from the seed[ 297 ]. They are obtained in a volume ratio of approximately 9 : 1[ 299 ]. Palm oil has a wide range of uses, including making margarine, vegetable ghee, bakery fats, ice cream and as a cooking oil[ 297 ]. Palm oil is popular in West Africa and Malaysia for cooking and is now imported by India to meet local shortages in edible oil, being cheaper than many other vegetable oils[ 303 ]. In West Africa, the unrefine red palm oil is an essential part of the diet and is often added directly to bring richness to soups and sauces[ 303 ]. Addition of oil to cereal preparations greatly increases their calorific density, which is particularly advantageous for young children[ 303 ]. Palm oil is also used as frying oil in the preparation of snacks such as bean cakes and fried plantain[ 303 ]. Its 10% linoleic acid content makes it an excellent source of carotene. This is important in reducing incidence of vitamin A deficiency and the occurrence of nutritional blindness[ 303 ]. Palm kernel oil is similar in composition and properties to coconut oil. It also has a wide range of uses, including making margarine, ice cream, confectioneries and as a cooking oil, where it is sometimes combined with coconut oil[ 297 , 299 ]. The boiled and pounded nuts yield palm nut butter, a thick red liquid popular in Ghana and Liberia for making palm butter soup and other dishes[ 299 , 301 ]. The plant also provides heart-of-palm, where the soft portion of the apical bud is eaten as a vegetable[ 299 , 303 ]. Since the tree is single-stemmed, and palm trees are generally unable to produce side branches, harvesting this bud leads to the death of the tree[ K ]. Palm wine is commonly produced in West Africa by tapping the unopened male inflorescences, or the stem just below the apex of felled oil palms, and fermenting the sap[ 299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Analgesic Antiemetic Detergent Diuretic Emollient Laxative Skin Traditional medicinal uses in Africa are numerous. Preparations made from the palm heart are used to treat gonorrhoea, menorrhagia, and perinatal abdominal pain, and are considered laxative, anti-emetic and diuretic. The leaf sap is used in preparations used to treat skin affections. The roots as analgesic. The oil from the pulp is emollient and is used as an excipient for herbal ointments. It is used to treat suppurations, whitlows and swellings of the legs caused by erysipelas and infestations by Filaria.

Known Hazards

None known