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.

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 5th August, 2025 at Mt Coot tha Botanical Gardens, Queensland

Stem (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Unkown

Fruit

Taken by Unkown

Seeds

Taken by Unkown

Petiole

Taken by Unkown

Expand all

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

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical,

Tropical Monsoon

Aspect Range(s)

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

Mature Width

8-9m, 9-10m

8-9m,

9-10m

Growth Rate

Slow

Plant Shape

Domed - Broad

Life Span

200-300yrs

Maturity

8-10 yrs.

Frond Properties

Frond Position

Arching

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

New Frond Colour(s)

Green

Frond Colour(s) (front)

Green, Green Dark

Green,

Green Dark

Frond Colour(s) (back)

Green, Green Light

Green,

Green Light

Frond Texture (front)

Leathery

Frond Texture (back)

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

Frond Shapes

Pinnate / Parapinnate

Frond Arrangement

Alternate

Open Crown

Alternate ,

Open Crown

Frond Attachment

Partial Sheath

Rachis Length

3.5-4m, 4-4.5m, 4.5-5m, 5-5.5m

3.5-4m,

4-4.5m,

4.5-5m,

5-5.5m

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Linear

Pinna Apice(s)

Acute Narrowly

Pinna Base(s)

Attenuate

Pinna Cross Section

Reduplicate

Pinna Margins

Scabrous

Pinna Attachment

Sessile

Pinnae Arrangement

Plumose Pinnae

Spined Pinnae

Plumose Pinnae,

Spined Pinnae

Pinnae Pairs / Frond

100-110, 110-120, 120-130, 130-140, 140-150, 150-160

100-110,

110-120,

120-130,

130-140,

140-150,

150-160

Pinnule Length

900mm-1m, 1-1.5m

900mm-1m,

1-1.5m

Petiole Length

1-1.5m

Petiole Cross Section

Terete-grooved

Petiole Texture

Waxy

Spines-sharp , Spines-short

Spines-sharp,

Spines-short

Petiole Feature(s)

Spines Basal

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Grey-brown

Colour(s) (Base)

Grey-brown Dark

Texture (Upper)

Rough / Scabrous

Coarse

Texture (Base)

Rough / Scabrous

Coarse

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

200-250mm, 250-300mm, 300-350mm, 350-400mm, 400-450mm, 450-500mm, 500-600mm, 600-700mm, 700-800mm

200-250mm,

250-300mm,

300-350mm,

350-400mm,

400-450mm,

450-500mm,

500-600mm,

600-700mm,

700-800mm

Features

Persistent Rough Leaf Bases

Stemmed-single , Erect

Stemmed-single,

Erect

Construction

Palm Wood Fibres / Solid

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Flowering Time (start)

All Year Round

Colour(s)

Cream, Cream-white, White

Cream,

Cream-white,

White

Flower Shape(s)

Male Staminate Flower

Aroma(s)

Spicy-Slight, Sweet-Slight

Spicy-Slight,

Sweet-Slight

Sepal Number

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Short

Arrangement Shape

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

Flowers per Arrangment

many, 100>

many,

100>

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects, Wind, Weevils

Bees,

Insects,

Wind,

Weevils

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Same Plant

Petal Number

Stamen Number

Gender: Female

Flowering Time (start)

All Year Round

Colour(s)

Yellow

Flower Shape(s)

Female or Pistillate Flower

Aroma(s)

Spicy-Moderate

Sepal Number

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Short

Spike

Axillary, Interfoliar Short,

Spike

Arrangement Shape

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

Flowers per Arrangment

25-30, 20-25, 18-20, 16-18, 14-16, 12-14, 10-12, 9-10, 8-9, 7-8, 6-7, 5-6

25-30,

20-25,

18-20,

16-18,

14-16,

12-14,

10-12,

9-10,

8-9,

7-8,

6-7,

5-6

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects, Weevils, Wind

Bees,

Insects,

Weevils,

Wind

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Same Plant

Petal Number

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Oblong

Ovoid

Oblong,

Ovoid

Outer Colour(s)

Black, Orange-brown, Red-brown, Yellow

Black,

Orange-brown,

Red-brown,

Yellow

Outer Texture

Smooth

Waxy

Smooth,

Waxy

Thin

Length

30-40mm, 40-50mm

30-40mm,

40-50mm

Width

15-20mm, 20-25mm

15-20mm,

20-25mm

Flesh Colour

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.

Seed Properties

Type

Nut Oblong

Colour

Grey-brown

Shape(s)

Elliptic

Texture(s)

Waxy

Fleshy

Seed Appendage

Flesh

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds, Gravity

Animals,

Birds,

Gravity

Seed Number

200-2,000

Root Properties

Type

Surface Adventitious Root

Texture

Cord-like , Fibrous

Cord-like,

Fibrous

Invasiveness

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

Moist

Damp,

Moist

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

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

Bird Attraction

Insect, Seed, Fruit, Habitat

Insect,

Seed,

Fruit,

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

Poor

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Medium

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Drought Tolerance

Poor

Frost Tolerance

None

Smog Tolerance

Moderate

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

10 - 12°C

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

Moderate

Commercial Use(s)

Nut - Oil extract, cosmetics, Nut - Oil extract, culinary, Nut - Processed, fodder

Nut - Oil extract, cosmetics,

Nut - Oil extract, culinary,

Nut - Processed, fodder

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Basal Stem Rot (Ganoderma orbiforme), Cadang-cadang (viral disease), Coconut Budrot (Phytophthora palmivora)

Basal Stem Rot (Ganoderma orbiforme),

Cadang-cadang (viral disease),

Coconut Budrot (Phytophthora palmivora)

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

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m, 1,000-1,250m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m,

800-900m,

900-1,000m,

1,000-1,250m

Annual Precipitation Range

1,5oomm, 1,600mm, 1,700mm, 1,800mm, 1,900mm, 2,000mm, 2,200mm, 2,400mm, 2,600mm, 2,800mm, 3,000mm

1,5oomm,

1,600mm,

1,700mm,

1,800mm,

1,900mm,

2,000mm,

2,200mm,

2,400mm,

2,600mm,

2,800mm,

3,000mm

Fertilising Requirements

FR5, FR6

FR5,

FR6

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Propagation

Fresh Seed

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

Propagation Notes

Expand all

High Temperature Stratified Seed

Flowering

Cyclic

Seed Collecting

Cyclic

Sowing

Cyclic

Material Preparation

Collect the fruit once they have ripened to yellow-brown, black colour. Soak the fruit in water for 24-48 hrs. and then remove the flesh and allow to dry. Store in a cool dark place. The nut has dormancy than needs to be broken by heat treatment.

Viability:-

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Potting Mix

Cocopeat

Treatment

Place the cleaned seed on trays in an oven set at 38-40^oC for 60-70 days to break dormancy.

Remove and soak seeds for 2-4 days in water, replacing the water daily.

Place the seeds in a plastic bag with moist paper towels or cocopeat, moistened with a mix of Previcur fungicide and place the bag in a pie warmer or warm place in the dark at 27-30^oC. Check for mould periodically and replace moist medium if required.

Sprouting a radicle root may take 4 weeks to 12 mths.

Fill a 140mm pot with fix, with a dibber make a hole in the centre and place the sprouted seed, carefully, with the root pointing down to avoid damaging the radicle root in a pot and cover with mix.

Place the pots in a hothouse at 20-25^oC with misters to keep the environment warm and humid

Viable seeds/gram:- (50 - 60%)

Germination time:- 4 weeks - 12 mths.

Pricking out:- N.A.

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix

Notes

Experimentation of subjecting the seed (palm kernels) to an electromagnetic field while soaking in water has had results in obtaining germination within 1-2 weeks and more rapid seedling growth.

(Scientia Horticulturae, Stimulation of oil palm Eliaeis guineensis seed germination by exposure to electromagnetic fields, Faculty of Sciences and Industrial Technology, Prince of Songkla University-Surat-thani Campus, Muang District, Surat-thani Province, 84100, Thailand)

Tissue Culture

Notes

For best results tissue culture is the preffered method of propagation. As it requires specialist equipment no propagtion information is given.