Raphia regalis Becc.

A palm. It is almost without a stem as this can be 1 m long and mostly underground and has leaves 25 m long. The plant flowers once then dies. The flowering shoot is large and 3 m long and held erect. It contains both male and female flowers. The fruit are oval and 9.5 cm long and reddish-brown. The fruit are covered with shiny, overlapping scales. The seed is curved or spindle shaped.

The sides and summits of wooded slopes in wet forest, often on ridges, where it may be gregarious; at elevations from 500-850 metres. Usually found on acid soils.

Can be grown by seedlings.