African Oil Palm
The African Oil Palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) or oil palm is a member of the Palmae, or palm tree, family. It is used in commercial agriculture in the production of palm oil. The plant originated in west Africa near modern day Angola and Gambia. It was imported to Sumatra and the Malay area in the early 1900s.
As a crop plant, oil pams are grown for its clusters of fruit, which can weigh up to 45 kilograms (100 pounds). Each fruit has between one and three seeds. The fruit takes six months to mature from polliation and after harvest. Upon harvest, the drupe, pericarp and seeds are used for production of vegetable oil.
Agriculture
For each acre of oil palm, which is harvested year-round, the annual production averages 4 tons of fruit, which yeilds 816 kilograms (1800 pounds) of pericarp oil, and 209 kilograms of seed kernals, which yeilds 102 kilograms (225 pounds) of high quality palm kernal oil as well as 206 kilograms (235 pounds) of kernal meal. The meal is used to feed livestock.
Nutrition
Palm oil is high in vitamin K and dietary Magnesium. Palm oil contains 43 percent saturated fats, 43 percent monounsaturated fats and 13 percent polyunsaturated fats.
Structure
On mature trees, the oil palm's leaves can reach between 10 and 15 feet long growing from its spiky stalk which can reach 30.5 meters (100 feet) in height. A young tree produces about 30 leaves a year. Established trees over 10 years produce 20 leaves a year. Unlike its relative, the coconut plam, the oil palm doesn't produce offshoots.
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