Edible Parts: Apical bud  Flowers  Fruit  Oil  Sap  Stem
Edible Uses: Drink  Oil  Sweetener

The sap from the trunk is fermented to make palm wine, which is a very popular drink in west Africa[297 , 299 ]. When fresh, the sap tastes like ginger beer. The alcohol content of the sap increases from less than 2% to about 5% during the first 8 days of tapping, remaining constant thereafter[299 ]. It is obtained from the inflorescence[301 ]. It is tapped from the stem when the tree nears the flowering stage[299 ]. The sap can be obtained either by cutting down the trunk and allowing the sap to drain out, or by boring a hole in the trunk near the apex[297 ]. Palm wine is obtained by piercing the base of the terminal bud, which leads eventually to the death of the palm[418 ]. The wine is distilled into a strong alcoholic liquor and can also be used as bakers' yeast[299 ]. Fruit - boiled and eaten[297 , 299 ]. Poisonous raw[299 ]. The apical bud is cooked and used like cabbage[299 , 301 ]. Harvesting this bud will eventually cause the death of the trunk because it is unable to make side branches[K ]. An edible starch is obtained from the stem[301 ]. An oil is obtained from the fruit[297 ].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Laxative  Stomachic

The oily mesocarp of the fruit is used in traditional medicine for its laxative and stomachic properties and as a liniment for pains[299 ].

Basketry  Broom  Charcoal  Fencing  Fibre  Furniture  Oil  Paper  Plant support  Roofing  String  Thatching  Weaving  Wood

Agroforestry Uses: In Nigeria, the plant sometimes serves as support for yams[299 ]. In Benin, tomatoes, cassava, sugar cane, red pepper and other crops are sometimes grown on earth ridges in Raphia hookeri swamps[299 ]. Other Uses Raffia, a soft but strong fibre, is obtained by pulling off ribbon-like strips from the upper surface of the leaflets of young unfolding leaves. It is used to make mats, hats, baskets, bags, ropes, hammocks, ceremonial costumes, etc[297 , 299 ]. It may be woven into cloth[299 ]. In Europe it is used as tying material for horticulture and handicrafts[299 ]. Raffia fibre has been considered as a potential source of pulp for paper production[299 ]. The tough fibre (known as piassava) obtained from the petioles and leaf sheaths, is used for making brooms[46 , 297 ]. It is used for the roller brushes employed in sweeping streets; for making mats, bags, hammocks, ropes, etc[418 ]. A tough, weather-resistant, coarse rope can also be made from this fibre[297 , 299 ]. Piassava fibre is also used to make exceptionally strong paper[299 ]. A very fine-textured charcoal, much favoured for the manufacture of home-made gunpowder, can be made from the fibre[299 ]. Piassava fibre is water resistant, hard-wearing, and has the right balance between stiffness and elasticity to give a firm stroke to a broom and sufficient spring action to make the broom self-cleaning. Mature leaves yield higher quality piassava fibre than younger leaves[299 ]. The large midribs of the leaves, and the leaf stalks, are widely used by native people to construct the framework of houses, as poles for various uses and for making into furniture, ladders etc[46 , 297 , 299 ]. They can be split into strips for maing screens, weaving into mats, baskets etc[297 , 299 ]. The leaves, split lengthwise, are used for thatching, though they last only 1 year[299 ]. They are also used to make mats, baskets and other articles of wickerwork, and are used for hut-walls and fences[299 ]. Wood - used for construction[297 ]. The stem can be used in house-building, both for the framework and roof-poles and also for furniture frames; the outer splints are used for heavy mat screens, hut partitions and ceilings[418 ]. The wood can be used after the sap has been allowed to drain[297 ].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest