Raphia farinifera

Raphia farinifera

The raffia palm (Raphia farinifera (Gaertn.) Hyl.) is an arboreal species belonging to the Arecaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Liliopsida class,
Arecales Order,
Arecaceae family,
Subfamily Calamoideae,
Calameae Tribe,
Raphiinae sub-tribe,
Genus Raphia,
R. farinifera species.
The terms are synonymous:
– Metroxylon ruffia (Jacq.) Spreng .;
– Raphia kirkii Engl .;
– Raphia kirkii Engl. ex Becc .;
– Raphia kirkii var. grandis Engl .;
– Raphia kirkii var. grandis Engl. ex Becc .;
– Raphia kirkii var. longicarpa Engl .;
– Raphia kirkii var. longicarpa Engl. ex Becc .;
– Raphia lyciosa Comm .;
– Raphia lyciosa Comm. Ex Kunth;
– Raphia pedunculata P. Beauv .;
– Raphia polymita Comm .;
– Raphia polymita Comm. Ex Kunth;
– Raphia ruffia (Jacq.) Mart .;
– Raphia tamatavensis Sadeb .;
– Sagus farinifera Gaertn .;
– Sagus pedunculata (P. Beauv.) Poir .;
– Sagus ruffia Jacq ..

Etymology –
The term Raphia is derived from the Malagasy word raffia (or roffia or rofia).
The specific farinifera epithet comes from flour and from fero porto: floury, floured.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Raphia farinifera is a plant native to tropical Africa and Madagascar and present in an area that includes tropical Africa from Senegal to Cameroon: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar.
Its habitat is that of the very humid environments of the tunnel river forest, of the freshwater marsh forests, along the banks of the rivers and in the forests of the western coast of Lake Victoria, at altitudes from sea level up to 2,500 meters.

Description –
The raffia palm is a polloniferous plant which therefore forms multiple stems, with a diameter of about 60 cm, which grow up to 10 m. in height.
It has pinnate, erect leaves, up to 20 m long, arranged in a crown at the top of the stem and supported by a large and thorny petiole.
It is a monocarpic species with flowers, gathered in terminal inflorescences that appear only once around 40-50 years of age.
The fruits are ovoid and reddish-brown in color.
After fruiting, the stem dries up and the plant emits new basal suckers.

Cultivation –
Raphia farinifera is a palm that is mainly used in the wild for a wide range of uses and is very important for the African populations where it grows.
The plant is however cultivated in Nigeria, Madagascar and India and semi-cultivated in various areas of Africa.
For its cultivation it should be taken into account that it is a plant of the tropics that grows well in humid tropical climates where temperatures never drop below 10 ° C, the average annual rainfall is 1,500 mm or more and the driest month is 25 mm. or more of rain.
For its cultivation it also requires a sunny position in a moist soil. It is also a monocarpic plant that grows for several years without flowering and then produces a massive inflorescence and dies after producing and dispersing the seeds.
Propagation occurs by seed which must be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water and sown in containers. The seed takes several months to germinate.

Customs and Traditions –
The raffia palm is a plant from whose leaves we obtain raffia, a resistant and coarse fiber, used above all for the production of ties for agriculture, but also for weaving works (mats, baskets, hats, bags, etc.) . Furthermore, sago, a flour used for food purposes, is extracted from the pith of the stem.
Among the edible uses it should be remembered that the sap of the trunk is fermented to make palm wine and is also used to make a sweet drink.
Lymph can be obtained either by cutting the trunk and letting the lymph drain, or by making a hole in the trunk near the apex.
The fruits are also boiled and eaten.
An oil is obtained from these.
The boiled fruit pulp produces a yellow fat known as raphia butter – it tastes good when fresh.
The fruits are crushed, water is added and the mixture is boiled and then left to cool. The floating oil is then skimmed and used in the kitchen.
The seed is edible.
Furthermore, Raphia farinifera wax, which is obtained from the lower surface of the leaves, is used as a polishing agent for boats and floors or for the production of candles.
The oil extracted from the pulp of the boiled fruit and from the fruit stones is used for the production of soap and stearin.
The fruit shells are transformed into snuffboxes or buttons.
Wood is used in construction but can be used after letting the sap drain.
In the medicinal field, root preparations are used against toothache. The fibers taken from the leaf sheath are taken against digestive disorders and the fermented sap from the inflorescence acts as a laxative. A decoction of the fruit pulp is used as a treatment for dysentery, and a fruit tea stops the bleeding.

Preparation Method –
Raphia farinifera is a plant whose sap is used and fermented to make palm wine or to make a sweet drink.
The most important use is that of raffia.
The large central veins of the leaves, and the leaf stems, are widely used by the natives to build the skeleton of the houses, as poles for various uses and to make furniture. They can be divided into strips to be woven into mats, baskets, etc.
The leaves are used to cover and weave baskets, mats and hats.
The fibers obtained from the leaves are used as a binding material and for weaving mats, hoods, bags, curtains, etc.
The tenacious fiber (called piassava) obtained from the leaf sheaths is used to make brooms.
A strong rope can also be made with this fiber.
The fiber comes from the cuticle of the leaves, which are harvested before being fully expanded and peeled on both sides. The thin strips of fibrous material thus obtained are then divided into narrower strips by a kind of comb, depending on the purpose for which they must be used. It appears as flat, straw-colored strips, about 12 – 18 mm wide and 90 – 120 cm long. It can be divided into thin threads. It can be used for delicately woven items, hats, floor mats and for wrapping goods. Loose strips are widely used in place of raffia or Russian ties by gardeners and nurserymen. More recently it has been woven into superior quality mats, tastefully colored, and used in place of tapestry to line the walls of London houses.
The preparation of raffia is one of the largest industries in Madagascar. Men cut palm leaves in the forests and take them home for the women to complete the work. The fiber is cured the same day it is stripped.
Among its original uses we can mention the ropes and fishing nets.
From the pulp of the fruit a decoction is obtained which is used as a treatment for dysentery and a fruit infusion stops the bleeding.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.