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Raphia australis Oberm. & Strey
| Family Name: | Arecaceae (Palmae) |
| Common Name: | Kosi Palm, Southern Raphia |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Palm (Solitary Habit) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical Southern Africa (Mozambique) & Southern Africa (KwaZulu-Natal & Cape Provinces) |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Freshwater Swamp Forest), Aquatic (Freshwater Pond / Lake / River) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a single-stemmed palm that grows up to 16 metres tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The fronds are large (up to 10 metres long) and evenly pinnate-compound. |
| Fruit | The fruit is an oval drupe (a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a single central seed), covered in shiny brown, overlapping scales and containing a single large seed. |
| Associated Fauna | In its native distribution, the fruit is eaten by the vegetarian Palm Nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis). |
| Etymology | The genus Raphia is likely derived from rofia, the Magalasy vernacular name for a related species, R. farinifera. The specific epithet australis is Latin for 'from the South', referring to this species being the southernmost representative of its genus. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate, Moderate to Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Waterlogged Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Modification | Flower/Fruit Bract |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Even-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Palm Fronds (Pinnate / Feather) |
| Foliar Venation | Parallel |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Palm - Solitary) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Palm) | Aboveground, Solitary Habit |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root), Aboveground (Aerial Root) |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Bumpy / Tuberculate, Scaly |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1381 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2674 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |