Arecaceae FAMILY

Elaeis oleifera

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Elaeis oleifera is a large, single-stemmed, pinnate-leaved, evergreen palm growing 6 metres or more tall. The unbranched stem can be 40cm in diameter; it is topped by a crown of large, arching leaves. It has dense clusters of crowded flowers and bright red fruit[ 314 Title Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. Publication Author Website http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website. , 768 Title Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas Publication Author Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R. Publisher Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey. Year 1995 ISBN 0-691-08537-4 Description An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos. ]. The plant is commonly exploited from the wild as a source of oil; it also has local medicinal uses. It is occasionally cultivated for its oil-bearing seeds and fruits[ 297 Title Palms of the World Publication Author Blombery. A. & Rodd. T. Publisher Angus and Robertson Year 1992 ISBN 0-207-14848-1 Description An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - northern Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Honduras.

HabitatMore or less open forest in moist, sandy soils that are often poorly drained[ 297 Title Palms of the World Publication Author Blombery. A. & Rodd. T. Publisher Angus and Robertson Year 1992 ISBN 0-207-14848-1 Description An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms. ]. Low-lying wet areas along the sides of rivers and streams, often persisting in cleared areas[ 768 Title Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas Publication Author Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R. Publisher Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey. Year 1995 ISBN 0-691-08537-4 Description An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos. ].