African oil palm

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Oil Palm
• macaw-fat
• oil palm

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Palma oleosa
• Elaeis cirrhosa
• Elaeis racemosa
• Elaeis guineensis var. macrosperma
• Elaeis dybowskii
• Elaeis guineensis var. microsperma
• Elaeis humilis
• Elaeis guineensis var. madagascariensis
• Elaeis guineensis var. albescens
• Elaeis guineensis f. androgyna
• Elaeis madagascariensis
• Elaeis guineensis var. angulosa
• Elaeis guineensis f. caryolitica
• Elaeis guineensis var. ceredia
• Elaeis virescens
• Elaeis guineensis var. compressa
• Elaeis guineensis f. dioica
• Elaeis guineensis f. dura
• Elaeis guineensis f. fatua
• Elaeis guineensis var. gracilinux
• Elaeis guineensis var. idolatrica
• Elaeis guineensis var. intermedia
• Elaeis guineensis var. leucocarpa
• Elaeis guineensis var. macrocarpa
• Elaeis guineensis var. macrocarya
• Elaeis guineensis var. macrophylla
• Elaeis guineensis var. pisifera
• Elaeis guineensis f. ramosa
• Elaeis guineensis var. repanda
• Elaeis guineensis var. rostrata
• Elaeis guineensis f. semidura
• Elaeis guineensis var. sempernigra
• Elaeis guineensis var. spectabilis
• Elaeis guineensis f. tenera
• Elaeis guineensis subsp. virescens
• Elaeis mocaya

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is categorized within the order Arecales and the family Arecaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic classification is placed under the genus Elaeis, specifically as the species Elaeis guineensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Elaeis guineensis, is widely distributed across various regions within West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it can be found growing in the country of Benin. The species is also documented to inhabit the landscapes of Burkina. Furthermore, its presence extends to the coastal and inland areas of Gambia. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Elaeis guineensis is characterized by a versatile adaptive capacity across diverse landscapes, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This species thrives in various environments, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), rainforests (Floresta Ombrófila/Floresta Pluvial), and coastal restinga ecosystems. Its survival and proliferation within these habitats are supported by the presence of biological defense mechanisms, indicating an evolved capacity to mitigate herbivory or environmental pressures.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Elaeis guineensis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist and remain productive over many years. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on its woody stem, a structural trait shared across its classifications as both a phanerophyte and specifically a phanerophyte in terms of its growth habit. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present throughout its long lifespan rather than shedding seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Elaeis guineensis is characterized by a robust, woody growth form, specifically classified as a tree or palm. It is a terrestrial, independent organism that does not function as a climber, epiphyte, or parasite, maintaining a self-supporting structure throughout its life cycle. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation, with a maximum shoot length reaching up to 3000 cm. In terms of stature, it reaches a mean plant height of approximately 13.33 meters, though it can attain a maximum height of 20 meters. Its structural development is marked by significant girth, with a maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 50 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

DBH max:

50 cm

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

13.3333333333333 m

Shoot length max:

3000 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Elaeis guineensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits significant morphological adaptations, including the presence of leaf spines for structural or defensive purposes. Its foliage is substantial in scale, with a maximum leaf length reaching up to 750 cm, supported by a low Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 9.2 cm²/g, indicating a high leaf mass per area and a dense leaf structure. Regarding its structural composition, the stem possesses a mean specific density (SSD) of 460 mg/cm³. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

750 cm

Leaf spines :

yes

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

9.2 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

460 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Elaeis guineensis is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily mediated by insects, which ensures genetic diversity as self-fertilization is absent. The plant produces inflorescences with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.12 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes. These fruits are black in color and exhibit varying dimensions, with a mean length of 4.375 cm (ranging from 3 to 5.5 cm) and a mean width of 2.5 cm (ranging from 2 to 3 cm). The seeds contained within these drupes vary in mass, with a mean of 2.2109375 g, a minimum of 0.263 g, and a maximum of 4.33 g, while maintaining a consistent seed volume of 5800 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, utilizing animals to distribute the seeds throughout its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

5.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4.375 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

3 cm

Fruit width mean:

2.5 cm

Fruit width min:

2 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.12 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.07 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

4.33 g

Seed mass mean:

2.2109375 g

Seed mass min:

0.263 g

Seed volume max:

5800 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Elaeis guineensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Elaeis guineensis has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include FAT, Flavonoids, 1-Ethyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzene, 1-Methyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzene, 2,6-DIMETHOXYPHENOL.

FAT

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archiv fur Tierernahrung

Flavonoids

1. Phytochemistry
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

1-Ethyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzene

1. Dr. Duke

1-Methyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzene

1. Dr. Duke

2,6-DIMETHOXYPHENOL

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

DPP

1. International journal of fertility & sterility

Fatty acids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Elaeis guineensis has 254 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiarthritic, Antihypertensive, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of medicinal food

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of medicinal food

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Elaeis guineensis has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Most Reported Uses