Hyphaene petersiana aka Makalani Palm

Hyphaene petersiana is an evergreen palm in the Arecaceae family. Its native range runs from Tanzania to Namibia. Common names include makalani palm and vegetable ivory palm. It grows in lowland savanna with a seasonally dry tropical climate. Some stands grow on dry sand, far from rivers. Others grow near watercourses or above a high water table. In East Africa, it also grows inland on alkaline soils.

This slow-growing palm can reach 82 feet [25 metres] tall. Most trees have one trunk without branches. Some form a second stem, though suckers are rare. The trunk often swells in its middle or below the crown. A mass of fibrous roots supports its base. Large, grey-green leaves form a rounded crown above the trunk. These costapalmate leaves have stiff segments and a strong central rib. The tree keeps its leaves throughout the year.

The round fruit is about the size of a small apple. Beneath its glossy shell lies sweet, fibrous flesh. Each fruit contains a hard, white nut. This nut gives the palm its vegetable ivory name. Elephants knock fruit loose by pushing against the trees. They swallow the fruit and digest its flesh. The seeds pass through them and reach the ground in dung. People also raise this palm from seed.

In cultivation, this palm needs at least a subtropical climate. It favours heat and dry conditions and withstands drought well. PACSOA suggests it may accept heavy rain where drainage is good. Its great height and rounded leaf crown give it a bold form. Leaves supply thatch and material for baskets, mats, hats and fans. Leaf fibres provide rope and strings for musical instruments. People use leaf stalks for fences and huts. They carve the hard nuts into buttons and ornaments.

People eat the fruit flesh, raw seeds and sprouted seeds. They also cook and eat the growing tip. Removing that tip usually kills the palm. Sap and fruit pulp can both supply fermented drinks. Tapping sap can also kill trees and has reduced some local stands. Traditional medicine uses fruit pulp for stomach pain and intestinal worms. These reported uses do not establish medical benefit. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety for every use.