Borassus aethiopum

Borassus aethiopum is an unverzweigt palm that grows up to 20 metres high.It is characterized by a coronal up to 8 meters wide; young palms are covered with dry leaf stalks, showing fading leaf scars little by little; trees over 25 years old have a swelling of the trunk at 12-15 metres above the ground (at 2/3 of the height); bark is pale grey in older palms and is somewhat smooth.This plant has many uses,for instance, the fruit are esculent, the leaves can be used for fibres and the wood (which is considered to be termite-proof) can be used in constructionindustry.