Synonyms

Elaeis dybowskii Hua.

Elaeis guineensis f. androgyna A.Chev.

Systematic Position

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Magnoliophyta

Order: Arecales

Family: Arecaceae

Native: Africa

Common Names

English – Oil Palm

Malayalam –  എണ്ണപ്പന

Description: E. commonly known as the African oil palm, is a tropical palm tree native to West Africa. It is widely cultivated for its fruit, which produces palm oil, a versatile cooking oil and ingredient in many products. The oil palm holds a solitary stem that reaches about 10-20m height. Male and female flowers in separate inflorescences on the same tree (monoecious). Inflorescence large, head-like, with spiny tipped branches at the axis of leaves. The fruits are green turning orange later. When ripe, the fruits are black with a red base and feature a single oily seed.

Habitat:  Occurs in disturbed forests and along rivers and streams.

Distribution: Elaeis guineensis is native to West Africa and is widely cultivated in tropical regions across the globe.

Uses: Palm oil from the fruits is used in making various products such as soaps, cosmetics, candles, biofuels, and lubricating greases and in preparing tinplate and coating iron plates. Palm kernel oil, from the seeds, is used in manufacturing such edible products as margarine, ice cream, chocolate confections, cookies, and bread and various pharmaceuticals. The cake residue after kernel oil is used as a cattle feed.