Raphia regalis Becc.

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Biology:

Flowering in Raphia regalis usually occurs only after a prolonged period of vegetative growth, perhaps lasting years, at the end of which a burst of growth causes the central axis of the palm to elongate to four metres or more in height. This is followed by the development of large, complex, branched inflorescences, which can reach an impressive three metres in length and which, unusually for this genus, are held erect. Raphia regalis is monoecious, meaning that male and female flowers, which are reddish in colour and have a sharp, prickly tip, are borne on the same plant (2) (3). The fruits of this palm are variable in size and shape, but are generally large, up to 9.5 centimetres in length, ovoid with a narrow base, and reddish-brown in colour (2). Each fruit is covered in symmetrical rows of large, shiny, overlapping scales, and contains a curved or spindle-shaped seed (2) (4) (6). Most Raphia palms shed large numbers of seeds, often leading to dense, uniform stands of the same species, although the fruits attract a range of animals which may aid in seed dispersal (2). Like all palms of this group, Raphia regalis flowers only once and then dies (2) (3). Raphia palms have a wide range of uses, including as building materials, thatch, and in the production of palm wine (3) (7). The leaves are also widely used to extract a fibre known as 'raffia', which is used to make baskets, twine and other products, and is exported for use as garden twine and in weaving (3) (6).

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Rights holder/AuthorCopyright Wildscreen 2003-2008
Sourcehttp://www.arkive.org/raphia-palm/raphia-regalis/

Description:

Raphia regalis is a large, distinctive palm, its massive, pinnate leaves being the largest in the plant kingdom (1) (3) (4). In common with other members of the genus Raphia, these leaves wither but remain on the plant when they die (3). Raphia regalis appears to be stemless, but in fact has a short, stocky trunk, under a metre in length, buried just below the ground; the leaves of the palm therefore rise up from near ground level (2). Each leaf typically bears 180 leaflets on each side of the central stem, or rachis. Each leaflet measures up to 6.5 centimetres across at its widest point, and is green above and greyish-white and waxy below. Most Raphia species bear small spines along the margins and midrib of each leaflet, but these are sparse and inconspicuous in Raphia regalis (2).

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Rights holder/AuthorCopyright Wildscreen 2003-2008
Sourcehttp://www.arkive.org/raphia-palm/raphia-regalis/

Range Description:

Nigeria, Cross River State: Oban (1 coll.), Equi Issu Hills (1 coll.); Cameroon, S.W. Province: Bakossi (1 coll., 1 additional site record), E. Province: Djouo, nr. Somalono (1 coll.); Gabon: Nyanga (1 coll.); Congo (Brazzaville): Nschaggebod (1 coll.); Angola (Cabinda): Nkanda Mbaku (1 coll.).

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Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/46200

Range:

Raphia regalis occurs in western Africa, from Nigeria south through Cameroon, Gabon, Congo and Angola (Cabinda) (1) (5). However, the species is only currently known from less than ten highly fragmented locations (1).

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Rights holder/AuthorCopyright Wildscreen 2003-2008
Sourcehttp://www.arkive.org/raphia-palm/raphia-regalis/

Habitat and Ecology:

Habitat and Ecology

Occurs in mid-elevation wet forest, often on ridges, where it may be gregarious; 500850 m alt.

Systems

  • Terrestrial
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Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/46200

Habitat:

Mid-elevation rainforest, often on ridges and hill slopes, at elevations of between 500 and 850 metres (1) (3). Raphia regalis appears to prefer acid soils on low hills and rocky outcrops, though it is also found in wetter areas at the base of footslopes (2).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorCopyright Wildscreen 2003-2008
Sourcehttp://www.arkive.org/raphia-palm/raphia-regalis/

IUCN Red List Assessment:
Red List Category

VU
Vulnerable

Red List Criteria

B2ab(iii)

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2004
  • Needs updating

Assessor/s

Darbyshire, I.

Reviewer/s

Maunder, M. & Zona, S. (Palm Red List Authority)

Contributor/s

Justification

First described from a 1910 collection from the Oban area, Nigeria, this species was thought extinct in that country until a conscious effort to rediscover it in the 1970s by Otedoh proved successful, it being recorded in large numbers (at that time) in the Equi Issu hills near the Cameroonian border. In Cameroon it appears restricted to the Bakossi Mountains, where it has been collected at Ngomboku and recorded at Nyandong. It is also known from Gabon and Angola (Cabinda). The total area of occupancy is estimated to be < 2,000 km, and it is known from less than ten highly fragmented locations.

This highly distinctive palm, with no aerial trunk and with leaves rating amongst the largest in the plant kingdom, is likely under-recorded due to difficulties in collecting specimens of it, and in the fact that it has received limited taxonomic attention, being treated only briefly in Otedohs revision of the genus Raphia (Journal of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research 6(22), 1982), with no specimen citations.

Continuing decline is inferred because of extensive forest clearance for timber and for agricultural expansion in Nigeria and Bakossi. Selective felling for use in building and tapping of palm wine, mainly in Nigeria, poses a serious threat. The species may well be more threatened than the current lisiting indicates.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/46200

Status:

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorCopyright Wildscreen 2003-2008
Sourcehttp://www.arkive.org/raphia-palm/raphia-regalis/

Threats:

Raphia regalis is thought to be declining as a result of forest clearance for timber and agriculture. Selective felling for use in building and in palm wine production also poses a serious threat, particularly in Nigeria (1).

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorCopyright Wildscreen 2003-2008
Sourcehttp://www.arkive.org/raphia-palm/raphia-regalis/

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions

A full survey of the populations of this taxon should be carried out throughout its range; this should not prove difficult as the species is so distinctive. This will likely lead to the discovery of more sites, thus the conservation assessment may be downgraded in the future. Local populations should be encouraged to use the commoner R. hookeri in preference to R. regalis in building and palm wine production.
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorInternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Sourcehttp://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/46200
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith