Table 2 Ritual uses of palms in sub-Saharan Africa
From: Ritual uses of palms in traditional medicine in sub-Saharan Africa: a review
Palm species | Palm part(s) used | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Borassus aethiopum Mart. African fan palm | seed, root | - treatment of diseases and disorders |
- ceremonies | ||
Cocos nucifera L. Coconut | fruit, entire palm tree | - treatment of diseases and disorders |
- sacred places | ||
- offerings | ||
Dypsis canaliculata Jum. (Beentje) & J.Dransf. | entire palm tree | - sacred places |
Dypsis fibrosa (C.H.Wright) Beentje & J.Dransf. | leaf | - ceremonies |
Dypsis pinnatifrons Mart. | leaf | - ceremonies |
Elaeis guinnensis Jacq. African oil palm | fruit, seed, infructescence/inflorescence, leaf, root | - treatment of diseases and disorders |
- offerings | ||
- protection | ||
- oracles | ||
- taboo | ||
Elaeis guineensis var. idolatrica A.Chev. | entire palm tree | - sacred places |
Hyphaene coriacea Gaertn. Doum palm | leaf | - treatment of diseases and disorders |
- ceremonies | ||
Hyphaene petersiana Klotzsch ex Mart. | leaf | - ceremonies |
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. Senegal date palm | leaf | - ceremonies |
Raphia farinifera (Gaertn.) Hyl. | leaf | - ceremonies |
Raphia hookeri G.Mann & H.Wendl. Raphia-palm | seed | - treatment of diseases and disorders |
Raphia vinifera P.Beauv. West African piassava palm, Bamboo-palm | leaf | - protection |
Unidentified palm species | leaf | - treatment of diseases and disorders |
- offerings | ||
- protection | ||
- oracles | ||
| Â | Â | - ceremonies |