Ivory Coast raphia palm
Raphia hookeri G.Mann & H.Wendl.
Raphia hookeri, a palm species in the Arecaceae family, is native to Western and Central Africa. It is locally used to produce palm wine and is recognized for its exceptionally long leaflets, particularly in the subspecies R. h. gigantea found in Ghana and Ivory Coast. These leaflets can reach lengths of up to 11 ft 6 in and are only two inches wide, making them the longest leaflets known in the plant kingdom.
Description
Raphia hookeri, described by G.Mann & H.Wendl. in 1864, is a member of the Arecaceae family and is distributed across several African countries, including Cameroon, Angola, Benin, and others in the region. It is commonly known as the Ivory Coast raphia palm. The species is notable for its long leaflets, especially in the subspecies R. h. gigantea, which are the longest of any plant species. Locally, the palm is used to make palm wine. Its range extends from the Gulf of Guinea to Central Africa, where it grows in suitable habitats.
Other common names
Raphia PalmWine PalmIvory Coast raphia palm
Distribution
Cameroon · Global · Angola · Benin · Central African Repu · Congo · Equatorial Guinea · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Gulf of Guinea Is. · Ivory Coast · Liberia · Nigeria · Sierra Leone · Togo · Zaïre · Base-Guinée · Guinée forestière
Synonyms
Raphia angolensisRaphia giganteaRaphia hookeri var. planifoliolaRaphia hookeri var. rubrifoliaRaphia longirostrisRaphia maximaRaphia sassandrensisSagus hookeri
