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Borassus aethiopum
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Rusitu Valley
Photo: Bart Wursten
Rusitu Valley
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| Synonyms: |
Borassus flabellifer L. var. aethiopum (Mart.) Warb. |
| Common names: | Borassus palm (English) |
| Frequency: | Very rare in Zimbabwe |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Large palm tree. Stems erect, up to 20 m, with a distinct swelling above the middle. Leaves crowded on top of the stem, fan-shaped, blue-green up to 4 m including the petiole. Petiole armed with recurved thorns. Flowers in large branched sprays, unisexual on separate trees, female flowers larger than male. Fruit large, 12-18 cm in diameter, subspherical, orange-brown. |
| Notes: | This species can be mistaken for H. coriacea but is a much stouter tree with larger leaves and fruits and mature trees have the distinctive swelling in the trunk. Seriously threatened by increased exploitation to brew a strong alcoholic drink from the sap. Mature trees are cut and killed for this purpose. |
| Derivation of specific name: | aethiopum: Ethiopia, the name of the sub-Saharan biological region before the country formerly known as Abyssinia claimed the name Ethiopia. |
| Habitat: | In moist open woodland and riverine areas or floodplain alluvium. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 700 m |
| Flowering time: | Aug - Oct |
| Worldwide distribution: | Sudanian, Zambezian and Coastal phytochoria, extending to northern South Africa. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | E,S |
| Growth form(s): | Tree, shrub over 2 m. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | Critically Endangered |
| Insects associated with this species: | Zophopetes dysmephyla (Larval foodplant) |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Wednesday 6 June 2007 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 51. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 9. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 120. Dransfield, J. (2010). Arecaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(2) Pages 61 - 63. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 232. Fanshawe, D.B. (). District vegetation reports Division of Forest Research, Kitwe (roneo). Fanshawe, D.B. (1971). The Vegetation of Zambia. Division of Forest Research, Kitwe. Fowler, D.G. (2007). Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses, Kew Publishing Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 162. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press. White, F. (1983). The Vegetation of Africa. A descriptive memoir. UNESCO, Paris |
Other sources of information about Borassus aethiopum:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi: Borassus aethiopumFlora of Malawi: Borassus aethiopum
Flora of Mozambique: Borassus aethiopum
Flora of Zambia: Borassus aethiopum
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Borassus aethiopum
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Borassus aethiopumAfrican Plant Database: Borassus aethiopum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Borassus aethiopum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Borassus aethiopum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Borassus aethiopum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Borassus aethiopum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Borassus aethiopum
JSTOR Plant Science: Borassus aethiopum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Borassus aethiopum
Plants of the World Online: Borassus aethiopum
Tropicos: Borassus aethiopum
Wikipedia: Borassus aethiopum
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