Borassus

plant genus

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Borassus is a genus of sugar palms native to tropical Africa and naturalized elsewhere in the tropics. These palms are characterized by fan-shaped leaves and very hard wood. The genus is monotypic, meaning it contains only one species.1

While Borassus itself is a specific genus, palms in general, including species like the palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer), are economically important. Their inflorescences can be tapped for sap, which can be drunk fresh or fermented into toddy, and is also a source of sugar and alcohol. The wood of Borassus palms is noted for its hardness.21

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

palm
Distribution
…in Africa and America, and Borassus (palmyra palm), Calamus (rattan palm), Hyphaene (doum palm), and Phoenix (date palm) in Africa and Asia. Numbers of individuals of a species may be few or many.
Read More
…in Africa and America, and Borassus (palmyra palm), Calamus (rattan palm), Hyphaene (doum palm), and Phoenix (date palm) in Africa and Asia. Numbers of individuals of a species may be few or many.
Read More