African fan palm

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Elephant Palm
• Rhun Palm
• African fan palm
• black-rum palm
• borassus palm
• deleb palm
• African Palmyra Palm
• Selati Palm
• palmyra palm

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Borassus aethiopum var. bagamojense
• Borassus aethiopum var. senegalense
• Borassus deleb
• Borassus flabellifer var. aethiopum
• Borassus sambiranensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Arecales, falling into the family Arecaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Borassus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. Its distribution includes significant populations found in Benin and Burkina. It is also documented to grow within the borders of Gambia. Furthermore, the species can be located throughout the territory of Ghana. Finally, its presence extends into the coastal nation of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Borassus aethiopum is characterized by its adaptation to specific environmental niches, typically occupying positions within the canopy of its native ecosystems. It thrives across a diverse topographical spectrum, maintaining a presence in lowland areas and extending up to a maximum elevation of 750 m AMSL. Within its habitat, the species integrates into the structural layers of the vegetation, often forming part of the upper canopy which influences local microclimates and light availability. To ensure survival against herbivory and environmental pressures, the plant utilizes active defense mechanisms, marking a biological strategy aimed at protecting its structural integrity and resource reserves.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

750 m AMSL

Habitat :

canopy

Life history

The life history of Borassus aethiopum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive shoots are elevated well above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit within its natural habitat. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and evergreen foliage contributes to its enduring presence in the landscape.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Borassus aethiopum is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, primarily existing as a large tree or palm. This terrestrial, independent species exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is a self-supporting organism, rather than a climber or epiphyte. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with a mean height of approximately 20.45 meters, though individual specimens can vary from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum height of approximately 30.48 meters. Its structural development is substantial, featuring a maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 100 cm and a maximum shoot length reaching up to 3000 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

DBH max:

100 cm

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30.48037064 m

Plant height mean:

20.4454198166667 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Shoot length max:

3000 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Borassus aethiopum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its native tropical environments. The plant features expansive foliage, with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 280 cm, providing a substantial surface area for light interception and gas exchange. Structurally, the leaves are equipped with spines, which serve as a physiological and physical defense mechanism. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

280 cm

Leaf spines :

yes

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Borassus aethiopum is driven by complex biological interactions, primarily characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome where insects play a crucial role in the fertilization process. The plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, necessitating the movement of pollen between different flowers to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful pollination, the plant produces distinct fruits that are categorized by a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they rely on animals for seed distribution. These fruits are relatively large, featuring a mean length of 12 cm and a mean width of 14 cm, and they transition to a characteristic brown colour upon maturity.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit length mean:

12 cm

Fruit width mean:

14 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Borassus aethiopum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root.

Fruit

1. Planta medica

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Borassus aethiopum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, Sterols, Terpenoids, polyphenols.

Saponins

1. Planta medica

Sterols

1. Planta medica

Terpenoids

1. Planta medica

polyphenols

1. Planta medica

Activities

Borassus aethiopum has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Planta medica

Conditions

Borassus aethiopum has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include C-Reactive protein, malaria, nociception, oxidative stress, pyrexia.

C-reactive protein

1. Planta medica

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Nociception

1. Planta medica

Oxidative stress

1. Planta medica

Pyrexia

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Borassus aethiopum has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include fruit pulp, inflorescences, kernels.

Fruit pulp

1. Planta medica

Inflorescences

1. Planta medica

Kernels

1. Planta medica