Raphia palma-pinus

Botanical Description

Raphia palma-pinus is an evergreen palm. It is often heavily harvested for its leaves, but when not cut too destructively it can produce a stem 2 - 3 metres or more tall. The stem is topped by a rosette of more or less erect leaves that can each be up to 9 metres long[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. , 970 Title The Raphia Palms of West Africa Publication Kew Bulletin Vol. 19 No. 2 Author Russell T.A. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Year 1965 ISBN Description Describing the six known species of Raphia found in west Africa and their uses. ]. The plant suckers at the base, forming thickets of some size and density[ 970 Title The Raphia Palms of West Africa Publication Kew Bulletin Vol. 19 No. 2 Author Russell T.A. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Year 1965 ISBN Description Describing the six known species of Raphia found in west Africa and their uses. ]. The tree is widely harvested as a commercial source of piassava fibre, and also as a source of materials for its wide range of local uses. The species is widespread in western Africa however, it is widely exploited and its habitat is also threatened by many activities, including 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)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].