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Hyphaene petersiana
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (5)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi National Park Rest Camp, Victoria Falls
Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi National Park Rest Camp, Victoria Falls
Photo: Bart Wursten
Masuma Dam, Hwange NP
Photo: Petra Ballings
Along Runde River South of Tembwahata, Gonarezhou National Park.
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Hyphaene benguellensis var. ventricosa (Kirk) Furtado Hyphaene ventricosa Kirk |
| Common names: | Northern Ilala (Lala) palm (English) Real fan palm (English) Vegetable-ivory palm (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Tall erect, single-stemmed tree. Stems erect, rarely suckering to form clumps. Leaves crowded on top of the stem, fan-shaped, up to 2.5 m including the petiole. Petiole armed with recurved thorns. Male and female flowers on different trees; male flowers in short spikes; female flowers in large sprays, which develop into branched trusses of fruits. Fruits almost spherical, 4-6cm in diameter. The hard white kernel of the seed is known as "vegetable ivory". This species is very similar to the closely related H. coriacea and there is some debate about the exact taxonomic status of the two. H. coriacea differs mainly in the fruit being pear-shaped. The trees appear to be generally smaller and sucker more readily. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | petersiana: named after Professor Wilhelm Peters (1815-1863) of Berlin who collected in Mozambique in the early 19th century. |
| Habitat: | In dry sandy areas, often away from rivers. |
| Flowering time: | Nov - Feb |
| Worldwide distribution: | From Central Africa to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa |
| Botswana distribution: | |
| Growth form(s): | Tree. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 52. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 33. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 99. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 38 - 39. (Includes a picture). Dransfield, J. (2010). Arecaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(2) Pages 53 - 56. (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. As Hyphaene benguellensis ventricosa Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 345. (Includes a picture). Mannheimer, C. & Curtis B. (2009). Le Roux and Müller's Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Namibia Macmillan Education, Windhoek, Namibia. Pages 4 - 5. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 85. Roodt, V. (1998). Trees and Shrubs of the Okavango Delta Shell Field Guide Series: Part I Shell Oil Botswana, Gaberone. Pages 14 - 15. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 114. Setshogo, M.P. & Venter, F. (2003). Trees of Botswana: names and distribution SABONET Report No. 18 Southern African Botanical Diversity Network, Pretoria Page 4. (Includes a picture). Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 180. White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press. Page 12. as Hyphaene ventricosa |
Other sources of information about Hyphaene petersiana:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi: Hyphaene petersianaFlora of Caprivi: Hyphaene petersiana
Flora of Malawi: Hyphaene petersiana
Flora of Mozambique: Hyphaene petersiana
Flora of Zambia: Hyphaene petersiana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hyphaene petersiana
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Hyphaene petersianaAfrican Plant Database: Hyphaene petersiana
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Hyphaene petersiana
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Hyphaene petersiana
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Hyphaene petersiana
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Hyphaene petersiana
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Hyphaene petersiana
JSTOR Plant Science: Hyphaene petersiana
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Hyphaene petersiana
Plants of the World Online: Hyphaene petersiana
Tropicos: Hyphaene petersiana
Wikipedia: Hyphaene petersiana
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