Raffia palm

Raffia palm
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Arecales
Family:	Arecaceae
Subfamily:	Calamoideae
Tribe:	Lepidocaryeae
Genus:	Raphia; P.Beauv.

Raffia palmsare members of the genusRaphia.TheMalagasynamerafiais derived fromfia"to squeezejuice".^[2]Thegenuscontains about twenty species ofpalmsnative to tropical regions of Africa, and especiallyMadagascar,with one species (R. taedigera) also occurring inCentraland South America.^[1]R. taedigerais the source of raffia fibers, which are theveinsof the leaves, and this species produces a fruit called "brazilia pods", "uxi nuts" or "uxi pods".^[3]

They grow up to 16 metres (52 ft) tall and are remarkable for theircompound pinnate leaves,the longest in the plant kingdom; leaves ofR. regalisup to 25 metres (82 ft) long^[4]and 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide are known. The plants aremonocarpic,meaning that they flower once and then die after the seeds are mature. Some species have individual stems which die after fruiting, but have a root system which remains alive and sends up new stems which fruit.

Cultivation and uses

Fiber

Raffia fiber is produced from theepidermal membraneon the underside of the leaf fronds. The membrane is taken off to create a long thin fiber, which can be rolled together for added strength before they are finally dried. Fibres can be made intotwine,rope,garden ties, and used in tree grafting.^[2]^[5]Fibres are important in the area of textiles, as they can be dyed and woven into products such as decorativemats,baskets,placemats,hats, and shoes.

Raffia wine

The sap of the palm can befermentedinto raffia wine.^[2]It is traditionally collected by cutting a box in the top of the palm and suspending a large gourd below to collect the milky white liquid. Unlike withoil palms,this process kills the tree. Sap from both the raffia and oil palms can be allowed to ferment over a few days. When first collected from the tree, it is sweet and appears slightly carbonated. As it ages more sugar is converted. Raffia wine tends to be sweeter at any age when compared to oilpalm wine.Both kinds of palm wine can also be distilled into strong liquors, such asOgogoro.Traditionally in some cultures where raffia or oil palm are locally available, guests and spirits are offered these drinks from the palm trees.^{[citation needed]}

Other uses

In local construction, raffia fibres are used for ropes, with branches and leaves providing sticks and supporting beams, and various roof coverings.^[2]The people of Ogba kingdom in Rivers State and other southern Nigerians use raffia palm fronds as fishing poles. The frond is usually cut from a young palm tree. The leaves are removed and the stake is dried, which becomes very light, and the hook is attached to a line, which is tied to the stake, making it a fishing pole.^{[citation needed]}

The raffia palm is important in societies such as that of the Province ofBoholin the Philippines,KubaofDemocratic Republic of the Congo,NsoofCameroon,theIgboandIbibio/Annang/BahumonoofSoutheastern Nigeria,theTivofNorthcentral NigeriaandSouthwestern Cameroons,the Urhobo andIjaw peopleof the Niger deltaNigeriaand theYoruba peopleof southwestern Nigeria, among several other West Africanethnicnations.^{[citation needed]}

Synthetic raffia

A strand of raffia has a maximum length of about 1.5 m and an irregular width. When found onspoolsorhanksof greater lengths, it is likely synthetic raffia, produced frompolypropylene.First produced byCovemain collaboration withSulzer,a manufacturer of flat weaving looms for natural fibers, who adapted their looms to process synthetic raffia. These fabrics are used to make carpet backing, protective sheets, and bags for rice, potatoes, and citrus fruit. Covema also developed a method to cover raffia fabric with a thin film ofpolyethylenein order to make it waterproof.^[6]

Raffia can be used in tree grafting
Kuba raffia clothpanel
Raffia is woven to make the traditional Munganji dancer suit used inBapendeceremonies in the Gungu region ofBandundu Province,Democratic Republic of the Congo
Raphia animals in Madagascar

Species

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Raphia africanaOtedoh	Nigeria, Cameroon
	Raphia australisOberm. & Strey	Mozambique, South Africa
	Raphia farinifera(Gaertn.) Hyl.	Africa from Senegal to Tanzania, south to Mozambique and Zimbabwe
	Raphia gentilianaDe Wild.	Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic
	Raphia hookeriG.Mann & H.Wendl.	western and central Africa from Liberia to Angola
	Raphia laurentiiDe Wild.	Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic
	Raphia longifloraG.Mann & H.Wendl.	from Nigeria to Democratic Republic of Congo
	Raphia mambillensisOtedoh	Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Sudan
	Raphia manniiBecc.	Nigeria, Bioko
	Raphia matombeDe Wild.	Cabinda, Democratic Republic of Congo
	Raphia monbuttorumDrude	Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan
	Raphia palma-pinus(Gaertn.) Hutch.	western Africa from Liberia to Cabinda
	Raphia regalisBecc.	central Africa from Nigeria to Angola
	Raphia rostrataBurret	Cabinda, Democratic Republic of Congo
	Raphia ruwenzoricaOtedoh	eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi
	Raphia seseDe Wild.	Democratic Republic of Congo
	Raphia sudanicaA. Chev.	western Africa from Senegal to Cameroon
	Raphia taedigera(Mart.) Mart.	Nigeria, Cameroon, Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama), South America (Colombia, Pará State of Brazil)
	Raphia textilisWelw.	Cabinda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Angola
	Raphia viniferaP. Beauv.	western Africa from Democratic Republic of Congo to Benin

References

^^a ^bKew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
^^a ^b ^c ^dBoiteau, Pierre(1999)."rafia".Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux(in French). Vol. I. Editions Alzieu. p. 196.
^Tucker, A.; Redford, A.; Scher, J.; Trice, M. (2010)."Raphia taedigera".Dried Botanical ID.Fort Collins, CO: Delaware State University, Identification Technology Program, CPHST, PPQ, APHIS, USDA.Retrieved7 October2016.
^Hallé, F. 1977. The longest leaf in palms?Principes21:18.
^"Natural Raffia – Your New Go-to Material in Fair Fashion - One of a Mind by ABURY".abury.net.Retrieved2021-09-10.
^Baucia, Giovanni."C'era una volta...l'estrusione".Polimerica.it(in Italian). Cronoart Srl.Retrieved21 October2021.

External links

[asdifoho9ho9sdfhi0-1] Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

[Boiteau-2] Boiteau, Pierre(1999)."rafia".Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux(in French). Vol. I. Editions Alzieu. p. 196.

[3] Tucker, A.; Redford, A.; Scher, J.; Trice, M. (2010)."Raphia taedigera".Dried Botanical ID.Fort Collins, CO: Delaware State University, Identification Technology Program, CPHST, PPQ, APHIS, USDA.Retrieved7 October2016.

[4] Hallé, F. 1977. The longest leaf in palms?Principes21:18.

[5] "Natural Raffia – Your New Go-to Material in Fair Fashion - One of a Mind by ABURY".abury.net.Retrieved2021-09-10.

[6] Baucia, Giovanni."C'era una volta...l'estrusione".Polimerica.it(in Italian). Cronoart Srl.Retrieved21 October2021.

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