Trees of the Year 2006

Rare Tree: Kosi Palm

National Tree Number: 26
Botanical name: Raphia australis
Other names: Kosipalm, Umvuma

Description:
A massive palm up to 24m high, erect stem, not suckering, usually with breathing roots growing up from the soil below the tree. It flowers once after about 30 years, sets fruit and then dies.

A magistrate at Mtunzini planted a grove of Kosi palms just after the turn of the century, and later their spread in this area was encouraged by an offi cial employed in malarial control who, in the course of his work, planted seeds wherever he thought the conditions suitable for the plants, and they all germinated and prospered.

The bark is thick and overlapping scales. The leaves are pinnate and feathershaped, very large, up to 10m long, spreading, dark green to bluish green, leaflets with margin and midrib spiny.The flowers are in a massive, up to 3m high, conical, apical inflorescence above the crown of leaves. The fruit is oval, about 90mm long, shiny brown. The inner trunk does not consist of solid wood, but is fibrous in texture.

Uses:
The leaves of the Kosi palm are used as a thatch material, and the petioles for hut construction, outriggers for canoes, fences and rafts. The trees are vital for the survival of the rare Palm Nut Vulture.

Distribution:
The Kosi palms occur naturally in the north-eastern extremity of Kwazulu Natal and in southern Mozambique, where they are usually found in swamp forest, often in dense groves. As the name indicates, the palms are mostly found in the vicinity of Kosi Bay, but some trees became naturalised further south up to the Mtunzini area. Palm nut vultures (Gypohierax angolensis) nest in the trees and feed on the fruit.