Within the Island of Madagascar, the palms are harvested deep inside the forest. The colourful raffia that we all know actually starts life pale green in colour, but soon after harvest, dries out and turns beige in colour.
Categories include: colour, length, width and texture. The Raffia process is one that is time consuming, though the local expertise and knowledge ensure only the finest Raffia is exported from the Island. This resource is sustainable as strict laws limit the harvest period of Raffia, ensuring that it can only be harvested from June to October each year. This ensures that the plant can re-grow to its full strength prior to it undertaking any damage.
Under these ideal tropical growing conditions, the plants grow at an extensive rate, though the local populace treat the tree with the utmost respect as it is a major contributor to their economy.
As well as being a popular crafting accessory, Raffia is also useful in and around the garden as the natural fibres are very gentle when tying back plants and can be utilised as an alternative to conventional jute twines. The natural fibres are very soft and pliable, yet incredibly strong, durable and easy to manipulate!
It is for these reasons that Raffia is largely used in the textile industry and is a first choice for many flower and vegetable growers! Raffia is subsequently used for agricultural purposes and feature prominently in vineyards, gardens and florists. Raffia is also a first choice for many aspiring crafters.
The attributes that are associated with Raffia are that of a strong, durable, flexible yet soft binding material. A palm of the tropics, it is able to succeed in subtropical areas. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b. Raphia farinifera is propagated by seed.
Germination is slow, unless the outer layers of the seed are removed and the root is exposed. In Madagascar seeds have been reported to germinate after 4—5 months, and to be ready for planting out in the field at 1 year after sowing.
Seedlings may also be collected from the wild and raised in a nursery before being planted out in the field. Propagation by tissue culture techniques may offer potential for Raphia.
All Raphia palms seen by us were closely associated with human habitation; variation within the Madagascar populations seems to be minimal, especially as regards the fruit; this gives us reason to believe the species has been introduced to the island. This same species is common and widespread in continental Africa. Uses: Fibres from young leaves used for a variety of crafts, including hat-making, fibre-weaving for clothing and basketry; petioles used in hut construction; fruits and hearts edible.
Raffia fibre obtained from the upper surface of young leaflets is used worldwide as tying material for horticulture and handicrafts. In tropical Africa it is locally used for tying and for making a wide range of products, including mats, baskets, hats, wallets, shoes, bags, fishing nets, hammocks, curtains and textiles.
The leaves are used for thatching, and the leaflets for plaiting. In Madagascar the midveins of the leaflets are used for making fishing nets and a range of articles for domestic use. The petiole and rachis are used for furniture, house construction, fences and ladders, and as poles.
The rachis is locally made into sweeping-brushes. In Madagascar the dry petiole is cut into pieces of 40 cm long, which are used as floats for fishing nets. In Uganda strips from the petiole are used for basket weaving. The stems of the palm are a source of starch. The palm is tapped for sap to be fermented into palm wine.
The fruit and seeds are eaten, and the fruit pulp is fermented into an alcoholic drink. The shells of the fruits are made into snuffboxes or buttons, and the fruits and seeds are used for decoration. A wax obtained from the lower surface of the leaflets has been used for floor and shoe polishes and for making candles.
Raphia farinifera is planted as a wayside and ornamental tree. In Madagascar the root is used against toothache, fibres from the leaf sheath are used for the treatment of digestive disorders, and a liquor obtained from the inflorescence is a drink as well as a laxative.
In Mauritius a decoction of the fruit pulp is used against dysentery, and an infusion of the fruit is said to attenuate haemorrhages. Production and international trade: Most of the raffia of international commerce is produced in Madagascar from Raphia farinifera.
In the s c. Properties: Raffia fibre is soft but strong. It is well suited to horticultural purposes, because it is supple and durable and it does not have sharp edges which might damage tender plant parts.
The material is easy to prepare to desired widths as it is readily split. It is also easily dyed, making it suitable for the production of fancy articles. The rachis is lightweight, easy to cut, strong and durable, making it very suitable for construction and furniture. In fact, raffia palm is recorded for having the largest and longest leaves in the plant kingdom. Each leaf has a fan-like appearance, with the leaflets arranged on either side of the rachis in a palmately compound fashion.
The base of the leaf stalk or rachis is broad and forms a sheath around the tree stem. Veins of the leaflets are parallel and not in a network pattern as seen in dicotyledonous plants.
The rachis is thick, fibrous, and tough, and does not easily snap. The petiole of each leaflet is long and strong. The inflorescence is a large spike. Flowers are unisexual and trimerous where the members of the flowers are arranged in sets of threes.
Flowers are also actinimorphic and can be cut into two equal halves along any plane of its cross section. The calyx sepals and corolla petals are undifferentiated and are called tepals.
There are six tepals arranged in two whorls. In male flowers, there are also six stamens in two whorls of three each. The stamen filaments are short, and with a two-celled anther each. When mature, the anthers dehisce or open along vertical slits. The ovary of the female flowers consist of three carpels tricarpellary , fused and with a superior position, where the tepals are arranged below the ovary of the flower.
There are three stigmas per flower where each style is extremely short. Flowers are wind pollinated. The fruit is a berry, which has a rough scaly exocarp, and inner fleshy mesocarp and an inner hard and oval endocarp or seed.
Fresh seeds are easier to germinate while older seeds lose their viability with time. Raffia palms are not easy to grow. They are selective in their habitat and can fluctuate their preferences for soil pH. While it has been noted that in some areas, acidic soil has helped them thrive, it has also been observed that soil rich in lime also favors growth.
Smoke from nearby fires is known to help fruits germinate faster. Each spike can give rise to as many as raffia fruits. Raffia is a plant with immense possibilites and uses.
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