Hyphaene coriacea aka Doum Palm

Hyphaene coriacea, the lala palm, belongs to the palm family, Arecaceae. Its native range runs from Ethiopia south to South Africa. It also includes Mayotte, Juan de Nova Island, and western Madagascar. This evergreen palm grows in hot places with seasonal drought. It occurs on coastal sands and poor soils with restricted drainage. Wild stands also grow near rivers, but not on their banks.

Growth is slow, and plants can form low, spreading clumps. Sources give heights around 16–20 feet (5–6 metres), with taller trunks reaching 30 feet (9 metres). Shoots from the base build up the clump over time. Old stems may lean or lie along the ground. Some trunks fork, though branching may happen only once or twice. Clear rings of old leaf scars mark the trunks. These can reach about 1.3 feet (0.4 metres) across.

The thick, grey-green leaves have a pale coating beneath. Each costapalmate leaf can span 5 feet (1.5 metres). Its stalk can reach the same length. Strong, black thorns curve back along the stalk edges. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Both bear hanging flower clusters from the leaf axils. Male clusters end in small, catkin-like branches. Female plants can carry large bunches of fruit. Fruit takes two years to ripen. It may remain attached for two more years before falling.

Grow this palm in full sun, including when young. It prefers sand laid down by rivers. It can grow in both moist and dry tropical climates. One source reports success where temperatures stay above 10°C. This does not establish its lowest safe winter temperature. Its clumps and bold leaves give it value as a landscape specimen. Seeds need heat to sprout and a medium that drains well. Keep that medium from drying out or becoming too wet. Young roots are brittle, so handle seedlings with care.

People eat the raw fruit, though its flesh contains much fibre. Its sweet taste has a hint of ginger. Liquid from young seeds also serves as a drink. People tap the crown for sap and ferment it. Local medicine uses fruit pulp for stomach pain. Leaves supply fibre for baskets, mats, and roof thatch. The hard seeds provide vegetable ivory for small crafted goods. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards. That statement does not confirm safety for pets. The supplied sources give no specific pest or disease guidance.