Borassus aethiopum

Borassus aethiopum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Arecales
Family:	Arecaceae
Genus:	Borassus
Species:	B. aethiopum
Binomial name
Borassus aethiopum Mart.

Borassus aethiopum is a species of Borassus palm from Africa. In English it is variously referred to as African fan palm, African palmyra palm, deleb palm, ron palm, toddy palm, black rhun palm, ronier palm (from the French) and other names. It also has names in African languages. The tree has many uses: the fruit are edible, as are the tender roots produced by the young plant;^[1] fibres can be obtained from the leaves; and the wood (which is reputed to be termite-proof) can be used in construction. There are at least two varieties of this species: var. bagamojensis and var. senegalensis. They grow swelling, solitary trunks to 25 metres (82 ft) in height and 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) in diameter at the base. The green leaves — 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide — are carried on petioles — 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) long — which are armed with spines. The crownshaft is spherical to 7 metres (23 ft) wide, the leaves are round with stiff leaflets, segmented a third or half-way to the petiole. In male plants the flower is small and inconspicuous; females grow larger, 2 centimetres (0.79 in) flowers which produce yellow to brown fruit resembling the coconut containing up to 3 seeds.

See also

• Great Mosque of Djenné (example of use of wood in construction)

References

1. ^  "Deleb palm". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921. 

External links

• Horticopia page on B. aethiopium
• PACSOF page on B. aethiopium
• La Plant Encyclo page on B. aethiopum (in French)
• Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database page on Borassus
• Borassus aethiopum in West African plants - A Photo Guide.
• "Borassus aethiopum". Ecocrop FAO. http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=32427. Retrieved 2010-02-08.