Palms   Raphia farinifera

Common Names: Rafia Palm Distribution & Habitat: The edges of rivers and lakes in Madagascar and East Africa. Description: A very spectacular palm, with a trunk to about 10 m. The leaves up to 20 m long, (amongst the largest in the plant kingdom), point almost upright. The stems are monocarpic, (see flowering farinifera). General: These palms are the source of raffia fibre, which is made from the leaf bases. Cultivation: These palms like very wet feet, and a tropical or sub-tropical climate. They are best suited to parks or large gardens, because of their very large size. Figure 2. Mature R. farinifera and the people who live under them.

Figure 1. R. farinifera in habitat

Figure 3. R. farinifera

Figure 4. R. farinifera fruits.

Contributed by:

Jeff Nugent, Permaculture Plants (Figure 1,2,3&4)

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