Raphia vinifera
Raphia (rahf-EE-ah) vinifera (vihn-ih-FEHR-ah) | |||||||
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Ore, Ondo State, Nigeria. Photo by Jörn Germer. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
It is particularly abundant along the creeks of Niger Delta, Cross River, Lagos and Ikorodu in Nigeria. Raffia vinifera is present in wetlands and other moist places, especially on the banks of streams.Description
Wine palm is an, solitary palm tree with an unbranched, rather stout stem that can be 5 metres tall. It is topped by a crown of leaves that can be 10 metres or more long. palm of watery places, PARTICULARLY abundant on the edge of creeks; the stout trunk of moderate size, Attaining about 25 ft. in height, crowned by the wide arching fronds up to 40 ft. along with sturdy midribs Whose popular use as poles HAS Prompted the common name of Bamboo-palm.
Monoecious Palm, stocky trunk up to 5 m high. Leaves pinnate, arched, reaching 13 m long, sheathing at base; Smooth sleeve, splitting opposite the petiole; petiole grooved above, unarmed; chunky spine, without spines, orange to pale brown; leaflets linear, up to 150 cm long, folded once, bright and shiny green above, glaucous and relatively waxy below, edges and prickly stalks. Inflorescence axillary, drooping, up to 150 cm long, branched 2 orders; bracts and stalk bases ring ramifications; Partial inflorescences 30-60 cm long; rachilles in 4 rows, loose, slender, 10-15 cm long, arched, laterally compressed, tapering, with flowers in 2 rows. Unisexual flowers; male flowers at the apex of the branches of the inflorescence, female flowers at the base; male flowers arched, 8 mm long, bracteole sharply 2-keeled and enveloping calyx, chalice almost cutting, 3-lobed corolla about 3 times as long as calyx, dividing into 3 segments, slightly thickened in apex, stamens (6-) 9, inserted on the corolla, thick threads, free or connate on half of their length; female flowers outside bracteole slightly longer than calyx, calyx cup, 3 teeth, corolla of a third longer than the calyx, divided halfway into 3 segments sharp, staminoïdal ring welded to the corolla, 9 sterile anthers, ovary superior, 3-celled.read more |
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Fruit: cylindrical-ellipsoid, 5-9 cm × 3-4 cm, pointed beak 3-5 mm long, covered with scales (8) 9 rows, usually 1-seeded; rhomboid scales of about 20 mm × 20 mm, flat or concave towards the tip, yellow-brown. Seeds ovoid to ellipsoid; oily mesocarp; albumen ruminated deeply.
The kind Raffia includes about 20 species, mostly African, mostly found in swampy areas. One species, Raffia taedigera (Mart.) Mart., Is found in tropical America. Raffia taedigera strongly resembles Raffia vinifera and assume it is derived from plant material of the latter, arrived from Africa by the ocean currents. Raffia australis Oberm. & Strey ( "Kosi palm"), a single trunk palm up to 24m high, present only in southern Mozambique and north-east of South Africa, has long been considered conspecific with Raffia vinifera . However, it has erected inflorescences, while those of raffia vinifera are drooping. The large leaves are sometimes used to cover roofs. Petioles and are used to float rafts and as a supporting beam for canoes. They are also used for building houses and fences. The species of Raffia have monocarpic trunks, that is to say, they flower and fruit only once, then die. The flowers are produced more or less simultaneously in the axils of the distal leaves. Bleeding for wine can damage the inflorescence becomes impossible flowering and accelerating death. The period between planting and flowering Raffia vinifera is about 8 years. (PROTA) Editing by edric. |
Culture
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b
Comments and Curiosities
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Uses: The epidermis of young leaflets gives raffia fiber is used to make baskets, mats, hats, bags, ropes, hammocks and ceremonial costumes. This fiber can be woven into fabric. The Kuba, DR Congo, are well known to weave beautiful raffia fabrics used, such as ceremonial dance skirts and embroidered fabric panels for the rituals of the court. In Europe, the raffia fiber (mainly Raffia farinifera (Gaertn.) Hyl.) Is used as a binding material for horticulture and handicrafts. The leaves are highly valued for covering roofs. Petioles and leaf rachis of raffia vinifera are often used as poles and rafters to make woodworking items such as stools, bed frames and benches. The split midribs are woven into mats. Benin and Nigeria, the trunks are typically used for structures of houses. An intoxicating beverage called Bourdon is obtained by tapping the trunk and fermenting the sap obtained. The sweet sap is extracted by removing the immature inflorescence and collecting the sap that runs out of the portion of cut stem remaining on the tree. In contrast to Raphia hookeri, the sap is not much used for wine making. The sap is also concentrated to make a sweet syrup. When the stems are harvested to be used as poles, they are allowed to lie on the ground for several days whilst the sap was drained. The drink obtained by this method is less sweet and more alcoholic that the drink obtained from the genuine wine palm (Elaeis spp) The tree is sometimes bled for sap fermented palm wine, but not very often, because the taste of wine is not appreciated. The oily mesocarp is eaten and can be fermented strong drink. The raw fruit is used as bait to birds and as fish poison. The apical bud decoction is taken to treat gonorrhea and other genitourinary infections. A multipurpose tree that is very important for the local population, supplying food, fibres and building materials. The fibres are exported to many other countries. The plant is cultivated in Nigeria, Cameroon, India, and Singapore. The nut contains bitter oil, which has the property of stupefying fish. The main stems of the plant are used as house posts. Woven raffia cloth dyed red, with a cut pile and stitched pattern in black and white. Kuba 'velvet' is one of Africa's most famous textile types. For the Kuba people, such cloths have served as luxury status symbols, items of trade and ceremonial dress for hundreds of years. They are woven from the rib of the Raphia vinifera palm. The children, women and men of a clan participate in making the cloth. The process includes gathering and preparing the raffia fibres, weaving the cloth, dyeing the embroidery fibres, and decorating the woven cloth with embroidery, appliqué, patchwork and dye. A monocarpic palm - growing for several years without flowering, then producing a massive inflorescence and dying after setting seed. |
External Links
- Glossary of Palm Terms
- MODERN BOTANICAL LATIN
- "Just To Be Clear"
- http://www.kepu.net.cn/english/banna/trepalhyd/pal02.html
- http://museum.archanth.cam.ac.uk/textiles/collection/africa/72/
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.