Elaeis guineensis Jacq., 1763

Common name(s): Oil Palm, African Oil Palm, Macaw-fat

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae) Subfamily: Arecoideae Synonym(s): Elaeis dybowskii Hua, Elaeis macrophylla A.Chev. (nom. inval. Elaeis madagascariensis Jum. & H.Perrier, Becc., Elaeis melanococca Gaertn., Elaeis nigrescens A.Chev., Prain (nom. inval., Elaeis virescens A.Chev., Prain, Palma oleosa Mill.
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 5th August, 2025 at Mt Coot tha Botanical Gardens, Queensland
Stem_lower
Stem (Lower)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Frond
Frond
Taken by Unkown
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Unkown
Seed
Seeds
Taken by Unkown
Petiole
Petiole
Taken by Unkown
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Angola
  • Angola: Indigenous
Benin
  • Benin: Indigenous
Cameroon
  • Cameroon: Indigenous
Congo, the Democratic Republic of the
  • Congo: Indigenous
Côte d'Ivoire
  • Cote d'Ivo: Indigenous
Equatorial Guinea
  • Equ Guinea: Indigenous
Gabon
  • Gabon: Indigenous
Ghana
  • Ghana: Indigenous
Guinea
  • Guinea: Indigenous
Guinea-Bissau
  • Guinea-Bis: Indigenous
Liberia
  • Liberia: Indigenous
Nigeria
  • Nigeria: Indigenous
Sierra Leone
  • Sierra Leo: Indigenous
Togo
  • Togo: Indigenous
Gambia
  • Gambia: Indigenous
Plant Type
Evergreen, Palm, Palm Feather-leaved, Solitary, Terrestrial
Evergreen,
Palm,
Palm Feather-leaved,
Solitary,
Terrestrial
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Tropical
Tropical
Climate Range(s) - Tolerance
Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical,
Tropical Monsoon
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full
Sun - Full
Habitat Range(s)
Open Woodlands, Rainforest - Tropical
Open Woodlands,
Rainforest - Tropical
Habitat Zone(s)
Foothills, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Hill Sides, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Riparian areas, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Water sides, Well drained, Wet Pockets
Foothills,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Hill Sides,
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Riparian areas,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams,
Sandy Moist,
Scattered,
Water sides,
Well drained,
Wet Pockets
Mature Height
15-20m
15-20m
Mature Width
8-9m, 9-10m
8-9m,
9-10m
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Plant Shape
Domed - Broad
Domed - Broad
Domed - Broad Domed - Broad
Life Span
200-300yrs
200-300yrs
Maturity
8-10 yrs.
8-10 yrs.
Frond Properties
Frond Number
20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, 40-45, 45-50
20-25,
25-30,
30-35,
35-40,
40-45,
45-50
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Green, Green Dark
Green,
Green Dark
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Green, Green Light
Green,
Green Light
Frond Texture (front)
Leathery
Leathery
Leathery Leathery
Frond Texture (back)
Leathery
Leathery
Leathery Leathery
Frond Length
3-3.5m, 3.5-4m, 4-4.5m, 4.5-5m, 5-5.5m, 5.5-6m, 6-6.5m, 6.5-7m, 7-7.5m, 7.5-8m
3-3.5m,
3.5-4m,
4-4.5m,
4.5-5m,
5-5.5m,
5.5-6m,
6-6.5m,
6.5-7m,
7-7.5m,
7.5-8m
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Pinnate / Parapinnate
Pinnate / Parapinnate
Pinnate / Parapinnate Pinnate / Parapinnate
Frond Arrangement
Alternate
Alternate
Open Crown
Open Crown
Alternate Alternate ,
Open Crown Open Crown
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Grey-brown
Grey-brown
Colour(s) (Base)
Grey-brown Dark
Grey-brown Dark
Texture (Upper)
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Coarse
Coarse
Texture (Base)
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Coarse
Coarse
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Male
Flowering Time (start)
All Year Round
All Year Round
Colour(s)
Cream, Cream-white, White
Cream,
Cream-white,
White
Flower Shape(s)
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower Male Staminate Flower
Aroma(s)
Spicy-Slight, Sweet-Slight
Spicy-Slight,
Sweet-Slight
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Arrangement Shape
Bract Spike
Bract Spike
Bract Spike Bract Spike
Spike Open , Spikelets 100-150 , Spikelets 150-200 , Spikelets 200-250 , Spikelets 250-300
Spike Open,
Spikelets 100-150,
Spikelets 150-200,
Spikelets 200-250,
Spikelets 250-300
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects, Wind, Weevils
Bees,
Insects,
Wind,
Weevils
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Same Plant
On Same Plant
Gender: Female
Flowering Time (start)
All Year Round
All Year Round
Colour(s)
Yellow
Yellow
Flower Shape(s)
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower Female or Pistillate Flower
Aroma(s)
Spicy-Moderate
Spicy-Moderate
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Spike
Spike
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short,
Spike Spike
Arrangement Shape
Bract Spike
Bract Spike
Bract Spike Bract Spike
Spikelets 100-150 , Spikelets 150-200 , Spikelets 200-250 , Spikelets 250-300
Spikelets 100-150,
Spikelets 150-200,
Spikelets 200-250,
Spikelets 250-300
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects, Weevils, Wind
Bees,
Insects,
Weevils,
Wind
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Same Plant
On Same Plant
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Drupe
Drupe
Drupe Drupe
Shape(s)
Oblong
Oblong
Ovoid
Ovoid
Oblong Oblong,
Ovoid Ovoid
Length
30-40mm, 40-50mm
30-40mm,
40-50mm
Width
15-20mm, 20-25mm
15-20mm,
20-25mm
Flesh Colour
Cream-white
Cream-white
Flesh Texture
Thick, Oily, Firm
Thick,
Oily,
Firm
Fruit Ripening
5 mths, 6 mths.
5 mths,
6 mths.
Maturation for Fruiting
3 yrs., 4 yrs.
3 yrs.,
4 yrs.
Root Properties
Type
Surface Adventitious Root
Surface Adventitious Root
Surface Adventitious Root Surface Adventitious Root
Invasiveness
Low
Low
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist
Fertile , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
WR3 - never let soil dry out,
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Insect, Seed, Fruit, Habitat
Insect,
Seed,
Fruit,
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
Poor
Poor
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Frost Tolerance
None
None
Smog Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Moderate
Moderate
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Foliage, Garden-Tropical, Litter Issue - Leaves, Litter Issue - Seeds, Windbreak
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Tropical,
Litter Issue - Leaves,
Litter Issue - Seeds,
Windbreak
Humidity Requirements
High, Very High
High,
Very High
Fertilising Requirements
FR5, FR6
FR5,
FR6
Wind Tolerance
Moderate Winds
Moderate Winds
Weed Potential(s)
Cambodia
  • Cambodia: Naturalised
Costa Rica
  • Costa Rica: Naturalised
El Salvador
  • El Salvado: Naturalised
Honduras
  • Honduras: Naturalised
Indonesia
  • Indonesia: Naturalised
  • Sumatra: Naturalised
  • Java: Naturalised
  • Sulawesi: Naturalised
Madagascar
  • Madagascar: Naturalised
Malaysia
  • Malaysia: Naturalised
Sri Lanka
  • Sri Lanka: Naturalised
Barbados
  • Barbados: Naturalised
Belize
  • Belize: Naturalised
Dominica
  • Dominica: Naturalised
Dominican Republic
  • Dom. Repub: Naturalised
Guatemala
  • Guatemala: Naturalised
Haiti
  • Haiti: Naturalised
Jamaica
  • Jamaica: Naturalised
Montserrat
  • Montserrat: Naturalised
Nicaragua
  • Nicaragua: Naturalised
Aruba
  • Aruba: Naturalised
Colombia
  • Colombia: Naturalised
Curaçao
  • Curacao: Naturalised
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • Venezuela: Naturalised
Kenya
  • Kenya: Declared
Tanzania, United Republic of
  • Tanzania: Declared
Uganda
  • Uganda: Declared

General Notes

Human use of oil palm may be dated as far back as 5,000 years in Egypt. Oil Palms have been the cause of a lot of deforestation in tropical regions which has given it a bad reputation for environmental damage. Oil palms however, can produce much more oil per unit of land area than most other oil-producing plants, from the fruit and seed, (about 9 x more than soy or 4.5 x more than rapeseed). The fruit of the Oil Palm is borne in a large bunch with a weight ranging from 23 - 82 kg. containing between 200 - 2,000 individual fruit (drupes).

There are quite a few varieties available

  • Elais guineensis fo. dura, 20-40% shell
  • Elais guineensis var. pisifera, shell-less
  • Elais guineensis fo. tenera, 5-20% shell
  • Elais guineensis var. macrocarpa, 40-60% shell