African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, Select. Stirp. Amer. Hist.: 280 (1763))

Family: Arecaceae

Author: Jacq.

Bibliography: Select. Stirp. Amer. Hist.: 280 (1763)

Year: 1763

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Elaeis

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. Africa

Description

The African oil palm, scientifically known as Elaeis guineensis, holds a significant place in both agricultural and economic sectors. First described by Jacquin in 1763, this versatile plant is native to tropical regions of Africa. Renowned for its high yield of oil, the palm is a pivotal crop in the global production of both palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are widely used in food products, cosmetics, and biofuels.

Belonging to the Arecaceae family, the African oil palm thrives in humid tropical climates with ample rainfall, making it well-suited to its natural habitat. Its characteristic pinnate fronds and tall, slender trunk contribute to its distinctive appearance in tropical landscapes.

Elaeis guineensis is not only crucial for its economic value but also for its cultural importance in many African communities. Historically, various parts of the palm have been utilized in traditional practices, from food preparation to medicinal remedies. As such, the African oil palm continues to be an integral part of life in tropical Africa, providing resources and livelihoods for countless people.

Common Names

Eng: african oil palm, oil palm, macaw-fat
Deu: afrikanische ölpalme, ölpalme
Por: dendê, palmeira-andim, palmeira-do-azeite, palmeira-do-dendê
Msa: kelapa sawit
Ind: kelapa sawit
Swa: mchikichi
Swe: oljepalm
Spa: palma africana
Fra: palmier à huile, palmier à huile d’afrique, palmier a huile
En: African oil palm, Oil palm, Macaw-fat
Ar: نخيل الزيت
Bm: Nten
Eu: Afrikar olio palmondo
Bn: অয়েলপাম
Bg: Маслена палма
Ca: Palmera d’oli de Guinea
Zh: 油棕, 油椰子
Cs: Palma olejná
Da: Oliepalme
Nl: Oliepalm
Fi: Afrikanöljypalmu, Öljypalmu
Fr: Palmier à huile, Palmier à huile d’Afrique, Palmier a Huile
Ff: Tuguhi, Koko
Gl: Palma da Guinea
De: Ölpalme, Afrikanische Ölpalme
El: Ααβόρα
Gn: Pindo ndende
Ht: Glouglou
He: דקל השמן
Hu: Olajpálma
Id: Kelapa sawit
Jv: Klapa Sawit
Ko: 기름야자
Lv: Eļļaspalma
Ln: Mbíla
Lt: Alyvpalmė
Ms: Kelapa sawit
Ml: എണ്ണപ്പന
No: Oljepalme
Fa: نخل روغنی آمریکایی
Pl: Olejowiec gwinejski
Pt: Palmeira-do-azeite, Palmeira-do-dendê, Palmeira-andim, Dendê, Dendezeiro, Dihoho, Palmeira-dendê, Palmeira andim
Pt-br: Dendê, Dendezeiro
Ru: Масличная пальма
Es: Palma africana, Palma de aceite
Su: Salak minyak
Sw: Mchikichi
Sv: Oljepalm
Zh-tw: 油椰子
Te: ఆయిల్‌ పామ్
Th: ปาล์มน้ำมัน
Zh-hant: 油棕
Wo: Teg, Tir, Tirk

Synonyms

• Elaeis guineensis var. macrocarya (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. sempernigra (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. idolatrica (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. leucocarpa (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. madagascariensis (Jum. & H.Perrier)
• Elaeis guineensis var. pisifera (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis macrophylla (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis subsp. nigrescens (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. albescens (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. macrocarpa (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis dybowskii (Hua)
• Elaeis guineensis f. ramosa (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. microsperma (Welw.)
• Elaeis madagascariensis ((Jum. & H.Perrier) Becc.)
• Elaeis virescens ((A.Chev.) Prain)
• Elaeis guineensis var. gracilinux (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. ceredia (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. macrosperma (Welw.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. intermedia (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. repanda (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. rostrata (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis f. semidura (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. angulosa (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis f. androgyna (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis f. caryolitica (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis f. tenera (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis f. dioica (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis guineensis f. dura (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis f. fatua (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. macrophylla (A.Chev.)
• Elaeis nigrescens ((A.Chev.) Prain)
• Elaeis guineensis var. compressa (Becc.)
• Elaeis guineensis var. spectabilis (A.Chev.)
• Palma oleosa (Mill.)
• Elaeis guineensis subsp. virescens (A.Chev.)

Distribution

• Angola (native)
• Benin (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• Congo (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Togo (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bismarck Archipelago (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken May 30, 2019 by George George Eager (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 9, 2013 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 7, 2013 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2022 by yuriza miradefi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2019 by Gnagbo Anthelme (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-nc)

Taken May 4, 2021 by Cardoso Francicleiton (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2008 by EOL − Ahmad Fuad Morad (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Mar 16, 2018 by Sabrina Moroni (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jan 13, 2019 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2020 by Francis OTHILY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 26, 2022 by Vasconcelos Wladson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2022 by Janis Yule (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 12, 2021 by Michel Mangi (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Feb 7, 2005 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 16, 2022 by Mahfirah Putri (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2019 by Gérard Mahone (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2021 by Carlos Sebastião (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 24, 2020 by periagung2017 (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Marco Schmidt (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Oct 6, 2022 by Resti Resti agustia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 5, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Geneviève Botti (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 13, 2019 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 13, 2019 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 28, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 21, 2019 by Wales Sidney (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2731882)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:666802-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Tree

Growth