Raphia
plant genus
Quick Summary
The genus Raphia consists of large, pinnate-leaved palms native to Madagascar and tropical Africa. These palms are valued for the fiber extracted from their petioles. The genus name Raphia is derived from the Malagasy word for raffia. Some species of Raphia are used to produce wine. The leaves of palms, in general, are diverse in size, shape, and division, typically consisting of a sheath, petiole, and blade.1234
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