Ivory Coast raffia palm

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Raphia Palm
• Wine Palm
• Ivory Coast raphia palm

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sagus hookeri
• Raphia angolensis
• Raphia longirostris
• Raphia gigantea
• Raphia hookeri var. planifoliola
• Raphia hookeri var. rubrifolia
• Raphia maxima
• Raphia sassandrensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Raphia hookeri, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Arecales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Arecaceae and is situated within the genus Raphia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Its range also extends into the nation of Gambia. Additionally, the species is present in Ghana and Guinea. Finally, its geographical presence includes the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Raphia hookeri is characterized by its specialized niche within the tropical forest layers, where it primarily thrives under the shaded conditions of the forest canopy. This placement within the canopy structure influences its light interception patterns and moisture retention capabilities, positioning it within a humid microclimate typical of its native range. To survive in these competitive biological environments, the plant possesses active defense mechanisms, utilizing specific physiological or physical traits to deter herbivory and protect its tissues from environmental stressors. This combination of canopy-dependent growth habits and robust defense strategies allows the species to maintain its presence within the complex stratified layers of its ecosystem.

Defense :

yes

Habitat :

canopy

Life history

The life history of Raphia hookeri is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, contributing to its structural presence within its ecosystem. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the seasons rather than undergoing a period of leaf loss. In terms of its biological classification of life forms, it is categorized as a phanerophyte, reflecting its growth habit of maintaining significant height and woody structures.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Raphia hookeri is characterized by its robust growth form, functioning as both a tree and a palm. It is a woody, terrestrial plant that grows independently without being a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than a climber. In terms of size, it typically reaches a mean height of 10 m, with a maximum height of 15 m, and can achieve a maximum shoot length of 1500 cm. Furthermore, the plant displays a maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 8 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

DBH max:

8 cm

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

palm

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Shoot length max:

1500 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Raphia hookeri is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its natural environment. The plant possesses structural adaptations for protection, specifically the presence of leaf spines. In terms of vegetative development, the leaf morphology is significant, with the leaf length reaching a maximum of 1200 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of soil nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

1200 cm

Leaf spines :

yes

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Raphia hookeri is characterized by the production of fleshy, brown-colored fruits that exhibit significant morphological variability. The fruit dimensions typically range from a minimum length of 5 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, with an average length of 9 cm, while the width fluctuates between 4 cm and 6 cm, averaging 4.5 cm. The fruiting period is highly flexible and can occur across various months, including January through December, with December noted as a key period. The seeds produced are substantial, maintaining a consistent mass of 25 g (both minimum and maximum) and a mean seed volume of 33,000 mm³, which is also its recorded minimum and maximum volume. Dispersal is primarily achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are spread by animals, facilitating the plant's propagation within its ecosystem.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

12 cm

Fruit length mean:

9 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit width max:

6 cm

Fruit width mean:

4.5 cm

Fruit width min:

4 cm

Fruiting time :

Dec

Seed mass mean:

25 g

Seed volume max:

33000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Raphia hookeri has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Raphia hookeri has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CA, FE, Flavonoids, MG, Saponins.

CA

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

FE

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Flavonoids

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

MG

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Saponins

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Tannins

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

ascorbic acid

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

cholesterol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

niacin

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

p-

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM