Hyphaene coriacea, the lala palm or ilala palm[1] is a species of palm tree native to the eastern Afrotropics.[2] It occurs in eastern Africa from Somalia to Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, and is also found in the coastal flats of Madagascar and on Juan de Nova Island in the Mozambique Channel Islands.

Lala palm
In Maspalomas Botanical Garden, Gran Canaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Hyphaene
Species:
H. coriacea
Binomial name
Hyphaene coriacea
Gaertn., 1788
Synonyms
  • Hyphaene natalensis Kuntze

Uses edit

The spongy pulp of the hard, brown fruit is edible and the fruit is eaten and sold in Madagascar.[3] The flavour has been compared to raisins and raisin bran.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Hyphaene coriacea - Palmpedia - Palm Grower's Guide".
  2. ^ Glen, H.F.; Reynolds, Yvonne. "Hyphaene coriacea Gaertn". PlantZAfrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Lala Palm Tree - Hyphaene coriacea - Zimbabwe, Angola..." www.krugerpark.co.za. Retrieved 9 February 2021.