Oil Plam Plants
Oil palm plants, primarily the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), are tropical trees that are highly valued for their oil-rich fruit. Here’s an overview of oil palm plants:
1. Description:
- Appearance: Oil palms have a single trunk and can grow up to 20-30 meters in height. The leaves are pinnate, long, and feathery, reaching lengths of up to 5 meters.
- Fruit: The fruit of the oil palm is reddish and about the size of a plum. It grows in large clusters and is composed of a hard seed (kernel) surrounded by a fleshy mesocarp.
2. Origin and Distribution:
- Origin: Native to West and Southwest Africa.
- Cultivation: Widely cultivated in tropical regions, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, which are the largest producers of palm oil.