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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Hyphaene thebaica is an evergreen Shrub growing to 10 m (32ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Chamaeriphes crinite (Gaertn.) Kuntze Chamaeriphes thebaica (L.) Kuntze Corypha thebaica L. Cucifera thebaica (L.) Delile Douma thebaica (L.) Poir. Hyphaene baikieana Furtado Hyphaene crinita Gaertn. Hyphaene dahomeensis Becc. Hyphaene dankaliensis Becc. Hyphaene nodularia Becc. Hyphaene occidentalis Becc. Hyphaene santoana Furtado Hyphaene sinaitica Furtado Hyphaene togoensis Dammer ex Becc. Hyphaene tuleyana Furtado Palma thebaica (L.) Jacq.
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Apical bud Fruit Seed
Edible Uses:
The orange fruit has a flavour of gingerbread[200 ]. It is eaten raw and is also made into sweetmeats, molasses and cakes[46 , 301 ]. The ovoid fruit is about 8cm long[335 ]. The unripe seed is eaten raw[46 , 335 ]. It needs proper preparation[301 ]. (No more details given[K ].) Rich in oil and protein[335 ]. The germinated seedlings, harvested just below the ground, are used as a vegetable[301 ]. Apical bud - cooked[301 ]. Used as a tasty cabbage[301 , 774 ]. Ashes from the stipes of trees can be used as a substitute for salt[303 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
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.
The pounded nuts are used for dressing wounds[46 ]. The roots are used in the treatment of bilharzia[303 ]. The fruit pulp is chewed to control hypertension[303 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Agroforestry Uses: Plants are normally seen as indicators of good soils with a high water table[303 ]. They are grown along river banks in order to stabilize them[303 ]. Other Uses: The leaves contain strong fibres and have a variety of uses. They are used in basket making; can be made into ropes and string; are used for making paper, coarse textiles; are made into mats, brooms, hut walls etc; used for thatching[46 , 303 ]. The root fibres, obtained after 2 - 3 days of soaking and beating of the roots, are used for making nets[303 ]. The seed has a hard, horny kernel which is sometimes used as a substitute for the vegetable ivory nut[63 ]. However, it is inferior and often has a large central cavity which limits its applications[63 ]. It is also used for making cheap buttons and is sometimes made into small perfume boxes[46 ]. A black dye is obtained from the dried bark[303 ]. The wood can be cut using an axe, but is difficult to saw due to the many fibres that constitute the wood[303 ]. Timber from the male palm is said to be better than that from the female, as it is borer and termite proof, decorative and durable. It is often used for construction, providing supports and rafters for houses, water ducts and wheels, railway sleepers, planks, fence posts and raft construction[303 ]. The trunks are sometimes used for fuel and to make charcoal[303 ]. The leaves are also sometimes burnt as fuel[303 ]. Carbon Farming - Industrial Crop: vegetable ivory. Agroforestry Services: crop shade.
Special Uses
Carbon Farming
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Agroforestry Services: Crop shade Industrial Crop: Vegetable ivory Management: Standard Regional Crop
A surprisingly tolerant palm, found naturally in tropical and subtropical arid to semiarid areas at elevations from sea level to 1,400 metres[303 , 314 ]. It is able to tolerate temperate climates, but prefers a mean annual temperature above 28°c[303 , 314 ]. It grows wild in areas where the mean annual rainfall is 100 - 600mm, but can also tolerate growing in areas of much higher rainfall, as long as the drainage is good (there is a very large Doum palm in the Singapore Botanic Gardens)[314 ]. Requires a sunny, very well drained position[314 ]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils[303 ]. Tolerates medium salinity[303 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5[303 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[314 ]. Growth is known to be relatively slow, and after germination a single strip-shaped leaf is produced, with fan-shaped leaves being produced at ground level 2 - 3 years after germination. At this stage, a new leaf is produced every 7 days and the stem is produced after 18 - 20 years[303 ]. Trees can commence fruiting when about 6 - 8 years old[303 ]. Mature trees of 6 - 8 years can produce 50 kilos of fruit per year[303 ]. A fire-resistant species, it is managed by coppicing and lopping[303 ]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[303 ]. Hermaphrodite trees do occur rarely, but their fruits are smaller and sterile[303 ]. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard.
Carbon Farming
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Agroforestry Services: Crop shade
Plants providing crop shade especially trees.
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Industrial Crop: Vegetable ivory
Large hard seeds to substitute ivory.
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
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Propagation
Seed - best sown in containers. When planting the seed, make sure to use a very deep pot, since the seed sends down a very long trap root, or 'sinker'. Plant out into its permanent position as soon as the plant is large enough. The plant sometimes produces root suckers that can be used for propagation[774 ].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
African Doum palm, Babazla, Bar, Dom, Doum, Dum palm, Goriba, Karjim, Kunchula, Na, Poro, Sete.
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Africa, Asia, Australia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Congo, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Palestine, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, USA, West Africa*, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
None Known
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.) Mart.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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Subject : Hyphaene thebaica
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