Raffia palm

 ( Decorative Fruits And Seeds ) 

Raffia palms are members of the genus Raphia. The Malagasy name rafia is derived from "to squeeze juice". The genus contains about twenty species of Arecaceae native to tropical regions of Africa, and especially Madagascar, with one species ( Raphia taedigera) also occurring in Central America and South America. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families R. taedigera is the source of raffia fibers, which are the veins of the leaves, and this species produces a fruit called "brazilia pods", "uxi nuts" or "uxi pods".

They grow up to tall and are remarkable for their compound pinnate leaf, the longest in the plant kingdom; leaves of R. regalis up to longHallé, F. 1977. The longest leaf in palms? Principes 21: 18. and wide are known. The plants are monocarpic, meaning that they flower once and then die after the seeds are mature. Some species have individual stems which die after fruiting, but have a root system which remains alive and sends up new stems which fruit. The Raphia palms are remarkable in being one of just two genera of flowering plants having the very rare phyllotaxy of 1/4 (the other is Laccosperma).Tuley, Af. Palms. op.cit. p. 36 Perhaps even more remarkable is the "King Raphia" (Raphia vinifera variety nigerica) which is the only known palm with pairs of opposite fronds.

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Cultivation and uses

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Fiber Raffia fiber is produced from the epidermal membrane on the underside of the leaf fronds. The membrane is taken off to create a long thin fiber, which can be rolled together for added strength before they are finally dried. Fibres can be made into twine, rope, garden ties, and used in tree grafting. Fibres are important in the area of textiles, as they can be dyed and woven into products such as decorative , , , hats, and shoes.

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Raffia wine

The sap of the palm can be Fermentation into raffia wine. It is traditionally collected by cutting a box in the top of the palm and suspending a large gourd below to collect the milky white liquid. Unlike with , this process kills the tree. Sap from both the raffia and oil palms can be allowed to ferment over a few days. When first collected from the tree, it is sweet and appears slightly carbonated. As it ages more sugar is converted. Raffia wine tends to be sweeter at any age when compared to oil palm wine. Both kinds of palm wine can also be distilled into strong liquors, such as Ogogoro. Traditionally in some cultures where raffia or oil palm are locally available, guests and spirits are offered these drinks from the palm trees.

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Other uses

In local construction, raffia fibres are used for ropes, with branches and leaves providing sticks and supporting beams, and various roof coverings. The people of Ogba kingdom in Rivers State and other southern Nigerians use raffia palm fronds as fishing poles. The frond is usually cut from a young palm tree. The leaves are removed and the stake is dried, which becomes very light, and the hook is attached to a line, which is tied to the stake, making it a fishing pole.

The raffia palm is important in societies such as that of the Province of Bohol in the Philippines, Kuba Kingdom of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nso people of Cameroon, the Igbo people and Ibibio people/Annang/Bahumono of Southeastern Nigeria, the Tiv people of Northcentral Nigeria and Cameroon, the Urhobo and Ijaw people of the Niger delta Nigeria and the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria, among several other West African ethnic nations.

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Synthetic raffia

A strand of raffia has a maximum length of about 1.5 m and an irregular width. When found on bobbin or hanks of greater lengths, it is likely synthetic raffia, produced from polypropylene. First produced by Covema in collaboration with Sulzer, a manufacturer of flat weaving looms for natural fibers, who adapted their looms to process synthetic raffia. These fabrics are used to make carpet backing, protective sheets, and bags for rice, potatoes, and citrus fruit. Covema also developed a method to cover raffia fabric with a thin film of polyethylene in order to make it waterproof.

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Species

Nigeria, Cameroon

Mozambique, South Africa

Africa from Senegal to Tanzania, south to Mozambique and Zimbabwe

Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic

western and central Africa from Liberia to Angola

Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic

from Nigeria to Democratic Republic of Congo

Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Sudan

Nigeria, Bioko

Cabinda, Democratic Republic of Congo

Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan

western Africa from Liberia to Cabinda

central Africa from Nigeria to Angola

Cabinda, Democratic Republic of Congo

eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi

Democratic Republic of Congo

western Africa from Senegal to Cameroon

Nigeria, Cameroon, Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama), South America (Colombia, Pará State of Brazil)

Cabinda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Angola

western Africa from Democratic Republic of Congo to Benin

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External links

• Kew palms checklist: Raphia
• Sorting Raphia names
• PACSOA: Raphia
• South Africa plants: Raphia australis
• Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: Raphia
• Raphia articles at Palm Pedia

Categories: Decorative Fruits And Seeds, Flora Of Africa

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