Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortés

A palm with a creeping trunk. It extends for several metres before turning upright. The erect trunk is about 2-4 m high. The trunk is covered with the remains of the leaf bases and spiny leaf stalks. The leaves are about 4 m long. The leaflets are often about 1 m long. The fruit are dark orange. They are in congested heads. They are 2-3 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. The fruit have oily flesh.

More or less open forest in moist, sandy soils that are often poorly drained. Low-lying wet areas along the sides of rivers and streams, often persisting in cleared areas.

The oil is extracted from the fruit for cooking.

Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.