identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
7325A3D46D48597AAE89275B5C0219C8.text	7325A3D46D48597AAE89275B5C0219C8.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Raphia gentiliana De Wild.	<div><p>Raphia gentiliana De Wild. (De Wildeman 1905: 29)</p><p>Figs 8, 9</p><p>Description.</p><p>Palms 6 to 10 m high, 16 cm in diameter, isolated or gregarious and forming in the latter case small mono-dominant stands of up to 17 individuals within a radius of 50 m. Stipes solitary, with two types of fibres: the narrower, rounded fibres 2–3 mm in diameter that run around the stipe and the flattened fibres, curling and hanging, forming belt-like ribbons up to 4.5 cm wide breaking down to form smooth fibres 5–6 mm. Leaves 7.60–10.58 m long. Petiole laterally fluted from base to rachis, unarmed, 3.72–4.10 m long; DP 30 comprises between 4.7–7.7 cm. Rachis 6.18–6.86 m long, laterally fluted, with a row of spines on each side of the cleft. Base of rachis uneven, with an offset of 12 to 27.5 cm between the two groups of basal leaflets on either side. Basal leaflets, on both sides of the rachis, grouped into a tuft of 4–8 leaflets, 1.33–1.41 m × 8.0– 8.4 cm, 12–35 in the R 0-30 area of the rachis, with dorsal spines (on the main vein) 5 mm long and marginal spines 4 mm long. Inflorescences: when young, 5–6 per individual, hanging, very tapered, approx. 2 m long; when mature 3.1 m (including peduncle 70 cm) long and 50–60 cm wide. Partial inflorescence 60 × 35 cm. Secondary and final branches 45 cm long. Infructescence hanging, 3.80 m long. Fruits ellipsoid to almost cylindrical, 4.8–7 × 2.5–5.5 cm, dark green when immature, becoming brownish and reddish when mature, rounded at the top with a 5 mm long beak.</p><p>Ecology.</p><p>Mainly growing on tierra firme in secondary forest, in light gaps, old fields, edge of roads, and swamps, planted in villages. It flowers in February, August, and October, and fruits in May, August, and October.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Angola, Central African Republic, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Mbandu Luzolawo et al. 2020), Republic of the Congo (this study); in the Republic of the Congo, the species occurs in Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Lékoumou, Likouala, and Plateaux.</p><p>IUCN conservation assessment.</p><p>Raphia gentiliana has been assessed as Least Concern (LC) by Cosiaux et al. (2018 a) who recommend further studies to better understand the area of occupancy of the species.</p><p>Uses.</p><p>The epidermis of the young leaflets of Raphia gentiliana is used to make traditional dance skirts in Moumbelou and Bonguinda (Likouala). The sap is tapped and used to make Raphia wine called Pigui in Ingoumina (Lékoumou). The petiole is used as laths to make the framework of huts, the skeleton of hut walls, and to make the two sticks that make up the skeleton of roofing tiles. In Kébouya (Cuvette-Ouest), the palm tree is felled, wounded at several points, and left to decay in order to harvest the edible larvae of Rhynchophorus cf. phoenicis .</p><p>Vernacular names.</p><p>Pigui, Pih-ongoungouma in Téké (Cuvette-Ouest); Opeou in Makoua, (Cuvette); Pigui in Téké (Lékoumou); Pòndo or Dihondò in Mbenzele (Likouala).</p><p>Notes.</p><p>Raphia gentiliana resembles R. textilis in the palm growth habit and the use of the epidermis of the young leaflets. We found that the easiest character to distinguish the two species is the fruit shape. Fruits are ellipsoid with a rounded to cuneate apex in R. gentiliana, while globose with a truncate apex in R. textilis . Tuley (1995) described the fruits as variable in shape, tapering club shaped to more globose or ellipsoid / ovoid for R. gentiliana, turbinate and sometimes near cylindrical in shape for R. textilis . Mbandu Luzolawo et al. (2020) reported the use of the epidermis of the young leaflets of R. gentiliana in the Democratic Republic of the Congo whereas Mogue Kamga et al. (2019) reported a similar use for R. textilis in Gabon. Further investigations in the field are needed for a better understanding of the two species.</p><p>Specimens examined.</p><p>Republic of the Congo. • Brazzaville. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=15.213&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.1068335" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 15.213/lat -4.1068335)">Saint Denis</a>, 04°06.41'S, 015°12.78'E, 332 m, 27 Oct 2018, Ndolo Ebika 2458 (HICPC) ; <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=15.289166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.187667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 15.289166/lat -4.187667)">Mfilou</a>, 04°11.26'S, 015°17.35'E, 372 m, 17 May 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2698 (HICPC) ; • Cuvette. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=15.602167&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=0.0" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 15.602167/lat 0.0)">Makoua</a>, 00°00.0'N, 015°36.13'E, 338 m, 22 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2734, (HICPC) ; • Cuvette-Ouest. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=14.9465&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-1.1441667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 14.9465/lat -1.1441667)">Kébouya</a>, 01°08.65'S, 014°56.79'E, 394 m, 17 Aug 2019 Ndolo Ebika 2710 (HICPC) ; 01°08.75'S, 014°56.62'E, 425 m, 18 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2726 (HICPC); <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=14.176&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=0.20966667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 14.176/lat 0.20966667)">Ndjoukou</a>. 00°12.58'N, 014°10.56'E, 539 m, 16 Feb 2020, Ndolo Ebika 3079 (HICPC) ; • Lékoumou. Ingoumina, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=13.8635&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.8913333" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 13.8635/lat -2.8913333)">7 km from Zanaga on the road to Sibiti and 1.7 km E from the village Ingoumina</a>, 02°53.48'S, 013°51.81'E, 570 m, 1 Oct 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2754 (HICPC, E) ; <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=13.834333&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.8751667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 13.834333/lat -2.8751667)">7 km from Zanaga on the road to Sibiti</a>, 02°52.51'S, 013°50.06'E, 540 m, 1 Oct 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2758 (HICPC, E) ; • Likouala. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=17.534&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=2.4066668" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 17.534/lat 2.4066668)">Moumbelou</a>, 02°24.40'N, 017°32.04'E, 345 m, 15 Aug 2018, Ndolo Ebika s. n. [photo only] (HICPC) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/7325A3D46D48597AAE89275B5C0219C8	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T.;Bouka, Gaël U. D.;Harris, David J.;Elenga, Raymond G.	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T., Bouka, Gaël U. D., Harris, David J., Elenga, Raymond G. (2026): Synopsis of the genus Raphia P. Beauv. (Arecaceae, Calamoideae) in the Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 271: 37-71, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.271.174506
40041251487C562A93ACE8510A613052.text	40041251487C562A93ACE8510A613052.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Raphia hookeri G. Mann & H. Wendl.	<div><p>Raphia hookeri G. Mann &amp; H. Wendl. (Mann and Wendland 1864: 24: 438)</p><p>Figs 10, 11</p><p>Description.</p><p>Palms 6–8 m high, gregarious with several individuals forming a monodominant stand. Stipes solitary, rarely appearing clustered, fully covered with fibres forming dense springs; fibres at least 8 mm wide. Leaves 5.65–10.5 m long. Petiole 1.81–3.80 m long, not spiny, channeled on the upper side (that facing the stipe); DP 30 comprised between 2.9–5.6 cm. Rachis 3.60–7.92 m long; channeled on the upper side, spiny on each side of the cleft. Leaflets 85–172 × 2.6–5.8 cm; 6–27 in the R 0–30 area of the rachis, with spines in two rows on the midrib and with marginal spines. Inflorescences (3 –) 4–5 per individual, 1.6–1.9 m long (including a peduncle of c. 30 cm) and 57–86 cm wide. Partial inflorescences 40–60 cm long and 20–35 cm wide. Second order rachillae up to 17–34 cm long and 8 mm wide. Infructescence hanging. Fruits ellipsoid to oblong, 4.4–8.2 (– 10.6) × 3.1–4.9 cm, green when immature and yellow to reddish when mature, with a 1–1.5 (– 1.8) cm long beak.</p><p>Ecology.</p><p>Forming monodominant stands (‘ raphiales’) stretching in some cases for more than 10 km, often along rivers, and planted in villages. In Republic of the Congo, it flowers in August, fruits present in May, August, September, October.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Angola (Cabinda), Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Togo (Brink and Achigan-Dako 2012; Couvreur and Sunderland 2022; Harris 2002; Mogue Kamga et al. 2019); in the Republic of the Congo, the species occurs in Brazzaville, Likouala, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, and Niari.</p><p>IUCN conservation assessment.</p><p>Raphia hookeri was assessed by Cosiaux et al. (2018 b) as Least Concern (LC).</p><p>Uses.</p><p>The sap is tapped and used as Raphia wine called Molengue in Lingala; Péké in Mbenzele (Likouala); Mali ouliè in Téké (Lékana, Plateaux); Ouliè in Téké (Kébouya, Cuvette-Ouest); Olènguè in Mbochi (Cuvette); Ntombé in Ndzabi (Lesoka camp, Niari). The rachis, with the leaflets still attached, are grouped in 5 or 6 to cover the roofs of huts (Moumbelou, Likouala). The young leaflets are also used as cassava wrappers (Tchikapika, Cuvette). The pulp of the fruit is used to make the red oil known as “ Kolo ” in Mbochi (Silou et al. 2000). In Cuvette and Plateaux departments, the pulp is fermented for a few days in water after cooking, called “ pandé ” in Mbochi, and is eaten. The name “ pandé ” in Mbochi is also used for the same product from R. laurentii . According to Limingui et al. (2021), the fermented pulp has medicinal properties and contains proteins, fats, and sugars. The pith (inert and soft part) of young stipes called “ Otowa ” in Mbochi (Tchikapika and Oyo; Cuvette) can be eaten raw or cooked. People harvest the edible larvae of Oryctes sp. Hellwig, 1798 ( Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) from the dead and decayed stipe. These larvae are called “ Aboh ” (sing. Iboh) in Mbochi (Tchikapika and Oyo; Cuvette) and are sold in markets.</p><p>Vernacular names.</p><p>Péké in Makao (Cuvette); Péké in Mbenzele (Likouala); Ouliè, plural Iliè, in Téké (Plateaux); Olènguè, plural Elènguè, in Téké (Cuvette-Ouest), plural Ilènguè, in Mbochi (Cuvette); Bongo, plural Abongo, in Makoua (Cuvette); Ntombé in Ndzabi (Niari); Dirombi, plural Marombi, in Punu (Niari); Tohombi in Vili (Kouilou).</p><p>Notes.</p><p>Raphia species sharing the curling fibres pattern form the section Temulentae Otedoh which contained three species R. hookeri, R. rostrata, and R. sese De Wild. (Otedoh 1982; Tuley 1995) but now has four species with the addition of R. gabonica (Helmstetter et al. 2020) . From our work, we found that R. hookeri can be distinguished from R. rostrata by having the fibres which form tightly coiled springs which cover the stipe whilst in R. rostrata the fibres are pendant and do not form tightly coiled springs. In addition, the petiole of R. hookeri has a smaller diameter, DP 30 size is 2.9–5.6 cm, whereas the petiole is broader in R. rostrata which has a DP 30 size of 6.7–7.7 cm. Fruits are ellipsoid to oblong with a 10–15 (– 18) mm long beak in R. hookeri whereas they are oblong to cylindrical, rarely ellipsoid; reddish, with a 8–9 mm long beak in R. rostrata .</p><p>Raphia hookeri resembles R. sese (not treated in this paper) by having yellow fruits in addition to the presence of the same type of fibres on the stipe. The latter species can be recognized by its fruits generally ovoid, obovoid to ellipsoid, orange to yellowish brown with a 10–18 mm beak length (Mbandu Luzolawo et al. 2020; Tuley 1995). The field observations that we made on the fruits of R. hookeri show an overlap in the size of the beak with reported values for R. sese . Such an overlap in fruits traits can lead to confusion in the identification of the two Raphia species. This is the case for the work by Silou et al. (2000) which was carried out on the oil called “ Kolo ” from R. sese . We believe that the species used in that study is probably R. hookeri, as “ Kolo ” is the Mbochi name given to the oil of R. hookeri in the Northern part of the Republic of the Congo where we collected herbarium specimens and where the oil is produced. These two observations indicate that more collections and observations should be made in the field to better understand these two taxa and find out if R. sese also occurs in the Republic of the Congo.</p><p>R. hookeri also resembles R. gabonica (not treated in this paper) but the latter has fruits being globose, deltoid or ovoid; orange-red fruits, with a 5 mm long beak long and grows on tierre firme and near streams and does not form monodominant stands (Kamga et al. 2018).</p><p>Specimens examined.</p><p>Republic of the Congo. • Brazzaville. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=15.289166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.187667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 15.289166/lat -4.187667)">Mfilou</a>, 04°11.26'S, 015°17.35'E, 372 m, 17 May 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2699 (HICPC) ; • Cuvette. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=15.609&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=0.0016666667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 15.609/lat 0.0016666667)">Makoua</a>, 00°00.10'N, 015°36.54'E, 327 m, 21 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2729 (HICPC) ; • Cuvette-Ouest. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=14.9465&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-1.1441667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 14.9465/lat -1.1441667)">Kébouya</a>, 01°08.65'S, 014°56.79'E, 394 m, 17 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2709 (HICPC) ; • Kouilou. Bas-Kouilou, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=11.705&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.458833" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 11.705/lat -4.458833)">2 km NW of the bridge on the Kouilou River, West of the Bas-Kouilou village at c. 100 m away from the main road</a>, 04°27.53'S, 011°42.30'E, 10 m, 28 Sep. 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2742 (HICPC, E) ; • Likouala. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=17.437166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=1.3476667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 17.437166/lat 1.3476667)">Epena</a>, 01°20.86'N, 017°26.23'E, 340 m, 07 Mar 2024, Ndolo Ebika s. n. [photo only] (HICPC) ; <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=17.531166&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=2.4053333" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 17.531166/lat 2.4053333)">Moumbelou</a>, 02°24.32'N, 017°31.87'E, 341 m, 14 Aug 2018, Ndolo Ebika s. n. [photo only] (HICPC) ; • Niari. Lesoka camp, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=12.702167&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.135" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 12.702167/lat -4.135)">close to Mafoubou River, about 9 km N of Dolisie</a>, 04°08.10'S, 012°42.13'E, 320 m, 5 Oct 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2763 (HICPC, E) ; • Plateaux. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=14.536667&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.3161666" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 14.536667/lat -2.3161666)">Lékana</a>, 02°18.97'S, 014°32.20'E, 798 m, 14 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2707 (HICPC) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/40041251487C562A93ACE8510A613052	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T.;Bouka, Gaël U. D.;Harris, David J.;Elenga, Raymond G.	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T., Bouka, Gaël U. D., Harris, David J., Elenga, Raymond G. (2026): Synopsis of the genus Raphia P. Beauv. (Arecaceae, Calamoideae) in the Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 271: 37-71, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.271.174506
1EFD24B3B5A55A11BBBFD1199CC250FC.text	1EFD24B3B5A55A11BBBFD1199CC250FC.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Raphia laurentii De Wild.	<div><p>Raphia laurentii De Wild. (De Wildeman 1905: 26)</p><p>Figs 12, 13</p><p>Description.</p><p>Palms about 2–5 m high, gregarious with several individuals forming a monodominant stand. Stipes clustered with 2–3 stipes joined at the base. Fibres blackish, flattened, long and upward pointing, 1.60 m in length and 5–8 mm wide. Leaves intertwined from the base and obscuring the stipe, 9.46–12.20 m long. Petiole 2.35–4.25 m long, adaxially channelled from the base to almost the middle then cylindrical or fully channelled, not spiny; DP 30 between 6.7–9.7 cm. Rachis 5.79–8.29 m long, cylindrical or only adaxially channelled in the first few centimetres then forming a bumped and flat ventral ridge having spines on the two sides and then converge onto a single and prominent ridge. Leaflets 1.42–1.68 m × 4.5–6.8 cm, 5–14 in the R 0-30 area of the rachis, dark green above and silvery below, with marginal (on blade margin) and dorsal (on main vein) spines. Inflorescences 2–3 (– 4) per individual, semi-erected when young then curving downward. Fruits broadly ellipsoid to oblong, 6.2–8.8 × 4–5 cm, green when immature and yellow-orange when mature, with a 4–7 mm long beak.</p><p>Ecology.</p><p>Permanently flooded swamps, in some areas in Likouala forming very large stands, mostly away from the rivers. In the Sangha Trinational it occurs close to small streams, sometimes within 100 m of Raphia hookeri, but on soil with a slightly lower water table than R. hookeri . It is cultivated in a few villages such as Lékana on tierra firme. In the Republic of the Congo, the species flowers and fruits in August.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Angola, Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Harris 2002; Mbandu Luzolawo et al. 2020; Mogue Kamga et al. 2019); in the Republic of the Congo: Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Likouala, Plateaux.</p><p>IUCN conservation assessment.</p><p>Raphia laurentii was assessed by Cosiaux et al. (2018 c) as Least Concern (LC).</p><p>Uses.</p><p>The sap is tapped and used to make Raphia wine called Tsam (Cuvette, Plateaux). The petiole is used as laths to make the framework of huts, and the frame of hut walls. The hardened and smooth parts of the petiole and rachis are used to make the two sticks that make up the skeleton which will be combined with the leaflets to form thatch roofing tiles. The pulp of the fruit is used to make the red oil called “ Mbayaka ” by the Moyis (Cuvette). Silou et al. (2000) provided details on physico-chemical characteristics and fatty acid composition of its oil. The cooked pulp is edible and is called “ pandé ” in Kouyou and Mbochi (Cuvette). “ Pandé ” is also used in Mbochi for the cooked pulp from R. hookeri .</p><p>Vernacular names.</p><p>Mabuku in Ngombe (Sangha); Baya, plural Abaya, in Téké (Cuvette-Ouest); Ivougou in Makoua (Cuvette); Ibouhou in Kouyou and Mbochi (Cuvette), plural Abouhou, in Mbochi (Cuvette); Liboungou in Mbenzele (Likouala).</p><p>Notes.</p><p>Raphia laurentii resembles Raphia monbuttorum Drude in the straight and pointed fibres as well as the inflorescences semi-erect when young (Couvreur and Sunderland 2022; Mogue Kamga et al. 2019). Based on inflorescences, the main difference between the two species seems to be in the second order rachillae. The second order rachillae in R. laurentii are digitate, flattened and 16–21 cm long whereas in R. monbuttorum they are non-digitate, roundish to circular and 5–7 cm long (Mogue Kamga et al. 2019). We suggest that many new collections of the different stages of inflorescence development might help clarify the situation.</p><p>Specimen examined.</p><p>Republic of the Congo. • Cuvette. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=15.601167&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-0.0026666666" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 15.601167/lat -0.0026666666)">Makoua</a>, 00°00.16'S, 015°36.07'E, 338 m, 21 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2728 (HICPC) ; • Cuvette-Ouest. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=14.9465&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-1.1441667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 14.9465/lat -1.1441667)">Kébouya</a>, 01°08.65'S, 014°56.79'E, 394 m, 17 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2708 (HICPC) ; • Likouala. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=17.485&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=2.3396666" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 17.485/lat 2.3396666)">Bonguinda</a>, 02°20.38'N, 017°29.10'E, 359 m, 31 Aug 2018, Ndolo Ebika 2429 (HICPC) ; • Plateaux. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=14.594334&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.3208332" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 14.594334/lat -2.3208332)">Lékana</a>, 02°19.25'S, 014°35.66'E, 807 m, 13 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika 2706 (HICPC) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/1EFD24B3B5A55A11BBBFD1199CC250FC	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T.;Bouka, Gaël U. D.;Harris, David J.;Elenga, Raymond G.	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T., Bouka, Gaël U. D., Harris, David J., Elenga, Raymond G. (2026): Synopsis of the genus Raphia P. Beauv. (Arecaceae, Calamoideae) in the Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 271: 37-71, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.271.174506
EDAB0544905251298F81D6E4D00C4FAA.text	EDAB0544905251298F81D6E4D00C4FAA.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Raphia matombe De Wild.	<div><p>Raphia matombe De Wild. (De Wildeman 1916: 144)</p><p>Fig. 14</p><p>Description.</p><p>Palms 4–5 m high, gregarious. Stipes clustered, with 2–6 stipes joined at the base. Fibres hanging, belt-like, in broad segments up to 6 cm wide, breaking down to form smooth fibres 3–4 mm wide. Leaves intertwined from the base and obscuring the stipe, 6.4–10.5 m long. Petiole yellow to pale green when young; red when mature, 1.98–4.45 m long; split from the base to almost the middle then cylindrical or fully split, not spiny; DP 30 between 4.1–6.7 cm. Rachis 3.93–7.38 m long. Leaflets 108–172 × 4.2–6.6 cm, 3–15 in the R 0–30 area of the rachis. Inflorescence 179 × 25 cm long. Infructescence 5–9 per individual, 145–155 × 36–48 cm (including 25 cm peduncle). Bract 25 × 15 cm, persistent, reddish brown on the inner side, folded and with acumen of 5.2–6.2 × 1.9–2.6 cm. Partial inflorescence 30–36 × 13 cm, with rachillae inserted in more than one plane, layered on top of each other. Secondary and final branches 6–8 cm long, occasionally up to 10 cm, inserted at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the first-order branches. Fruits ellipsoid, 4.5–5 × 2.7–3 cm, green when immature and yellow at maturity, with a 5–8 mm long beak.</p><p>Ecology.</p><p>Swamps close to mangroves and edge of seasonally flooded watercourses in savannas. The species flowers in September and fruits in September and October.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Angola (including Cabinda), Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of the Congo (Mbandu Luzolawo et al. 2020); in Republic of the Congo: Kouilou, Niari.</p><p>IUCN conservation assessment.</p><p>Raphia matombe was assessed by Cosiaux et al. (2018 d) as Data Deficient (DD). The authors called for intensive surveys which will contribute to improving the species’ morphological description and better understanding of its distribution and threats.</p><p>Uses.</p><p>The sap is tapped and used as Raphia wine called Younga in Vili (Bas-Kouilou).</p><p>Vernacular names.</p><p>Mòkòngo in Vili and Loumbou (Bas-Kouilou, Kouilou); Konga in Vili (Ditadi, Niari).</p><p>Notes.</p><p>In the Republic of the Congo, this species seems to be restricted to an area within 100 km of the coast, but more fieldwork is required for a better understanding of the species’ distribution in the country. Stauffer et al. (2017) also suggested that it would be interesting to investigate in detail the growth form of this species as it was not known. The species is recognized by its petiole which is yellow and pale green when young and red when mature. This character also appears on the composite plate of the species in the Uíge Province in northern Angola as reported by Lautenschläger et al. (2019) on page 3365. In all our collections, Raphia matombe is the sole species recorded in swamps close to, but not in mangroves in the Republic of the Congo. Another species of Raphia growing in mangroves, Raphia zamiana, was described from Cameroon (Kamga et al. 2018). This species differs from R. matombe by its straight fibres covering the stipe and the lack of conspicuous and persistent bracts on the infructescence.</p><p>Specimen examined.</p><p>Republic of the Congo. • Kouilou. Bas-Kouilou, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=11.723333&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.482" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 11.723333/lat -4.482)">about 1 km SE of the bridge on the Kouilou River</a>, 04°28.92'S, 011°43.40'E, 10 m, 27 Sep 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2739 (HICPC, E) ; • Niari. Ditadi, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=12.753667&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-4.2706666" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 12.753667/lat -4.2706666)">200 m NE of the road and 12 km SE of Dolisie</a>, 04°16.24'S, 012°45.22'E, 400 m, 4 Oct 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2761 (HICPC, E) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/EDAB0544905251298F81D6E4D00C4FAA	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T.;Bouka, Gaël U. D.;Harris, David J.;Elenga, Raymond G.	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T., Bouka, Gaël U. D., Harris, David J., Elenga, Raymond G. (2026): Synopsis of the genus Raphia P. Beauv. (Arecaceae, Calamoideae) in the Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 271: 37-71, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.271.174506
668288FEFD29564B8F57993EB9D0BC95.text	668288FEFD29564B8F57993EB9D0BC95.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Raphia regalis Becc.	<div><p>Raphia regalis Becc. (Beccari 1910: 125)</p><p>Figs 15, 16</p><p>Description.</p><p>Palms reaching 20 m high, solitary to gregarious. Stipe underground. Leaves arising directly from an underground stipe, 14.70–20.37 m long. Petiole 2.80–4.34 m long; DP 30 between 6.3–9.4 cm. Rachis 11.90–16.32 m long, with two longitudinal rows of spines. Leaflets 135–175 × 5.8–8.2 cm, 2–8 in the R 0–30 area of the rachis. Inflorescence 6 per individual, erect in early stages of development then hanging, brown then green, in the axil of a bract which has a long spine which is like an acumen. Partial inflorescence developing in zig-zag, not in a straight line. Secondary branches in the axil of small and persistent bracts, 4.5–5 × 0.5 cm. Flowers green in buds then dark red when open; Calyx with 3 lobes, acuminate. Fruits broadly ellipsoid, 6–7.2 × 2.8–3 cm, light brown when immature and dark brown when mature, with a 4 (– 5) mm long beak.</p><p>Ecology.</p><p>Tierra firme. The species flowers and fruits in October.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Angola (Cabinda), Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Couvreur and Sunderland 2022; Mbandu Luzolawo et al. 2020; Mogue Kamga et al. 2019); in the Republic of the Congo: Lékoumou.</p><p>IUCN conservation assessment.</p><p>Raphia regalis was assessed by Cosiaux et al. (2018 e) as Least Concern (LC).</p><p>Uses.</p><p>The petioles are used as laths to make the framework of huts, the skeleton of hut walls and also to make the two sticks that make up the skeleton which will be combined with the detached leaflets to form thatch roofing tiles.</p><p>Vernacular name.</p><p>Sougou in Téké (Lékoumou).</p><p>Notes.</p><p>The species is easily recognized by its leaves emerging straight from the ground. We observed around 15 individuals in an area of 400 m 2 at Ingoumina.</p><p>Specimen examined.</p><p>Republic of the Congo. • Lékoumou. Ingoumina, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=13.873167&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.8795" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 13.873167/lat -2.8795)">7 km from Zanaga on the road to Sibiti</a>, 02°52.77'S, 013°52.39'E, 570 m, 1 Oct 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2751 (HICPC, E) ; <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=13.873167&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.8795" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 13.873167/lat -2.8795)">7 km from Zanaga on the road to Sibiti, c. 3 km NE from Ingoumina village</a>., 02°52.77'S, 013°52.39'E, 570 m, 1 Oct 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2752 (HICPC, E) ; <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=13.873&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.8805" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 13.873/lat -2.8805)">7 km from Zanaga on the road to Sibiti</a>, 02°52.83'S, 013°52.38'E, 570 m, 1 Oct 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2753 (HICPC, E) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/668288FEFD29564B8F57993EB9D0BC95	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T.;Bouka, Gaël U. D.;Harris, David J.;Elenga, Raymond G.	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T., Bouka, Gaël U. D., Harris, David J., Elenga, Raymond G. (2026): Synopsis of the genus Raphia P. Beauv. (Arecaceae, Calamoideae) in the Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 271: 37-71, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.271.174506
8B5C8E35EE3D57F09AD7FECD8A6BBEE7.text	8B5C8E35EE3D57F09AD7FECD8A6BBEE7.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Raphia rostrata Burret	<div><p>Raphia rostrata Burret (Burret 1935: 307)</p><p>Fig. 17</p><p>Description.</p><p>Palms 6–8 m high, gregarious. Stipes clustered, with 2 to 4 (– 6) stipes joined at the base, covered with the leaf bases and fibres. Fibres at least 8 mm wide, curling, not forming springs around the stipe. Leaves 11.5–15.4 m long. Petiole 3.6–6.1 m long, reddish when very young, black with white dots to green when adult, channelled from the base to almost the middle then cylindrical or fully split, not spiny; DP 30 comprised between 6.7–7.7 cm. Rachis 7.82–10.11 m long, not split or split in the first half then forming a single and prominent ridge. Leaflets 6–10 in the R 0–30 zone, 159–186 × 4.8–6.6 cm. Infructescence 200 × 50 cm. Fruits oblong to cylindrical, rarely ellipsoid, 6–7.5 × 3–3.8 cm, reddish, with an 8–9 mm long beak.</p><p>Ecology.</p><p>Swamp forest. The species fruits in September.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Angola (Cabinda), Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Couvreur and Sunderland 2022; Mbandu Luzolawo et al. 2020; Mogue Kamga et al. 2019), Republic of the Congo (this study); in Republic of the Congo: Lékoumou.</p><p>IUCN conservation assessment.</p><p>Raphia rostrata was assessed by Cosiaux et al. (2018 f) as Data Deficient (DD). The authors requested more field surveys to better understand the taxonomic status, distribution, and threats of the species.</p><p>Use.</p><p>Production of Raphia wine called Touhomi in Téké (Ingoumina).</p><p>Vernacular name.</p><p>Touhomi in Téké (Lékoumou).</p><p>Notes.</p><p>Raphia rostrata resembles Raphia hookeri by the presence of curling stipe fibres. However, in R. rostrata the fibres are pendant and do not form tightly coiled springs whilst in R. hookeri, the fibres form tightly coiled springs which cover the stipe. In addition, the petiole is larger in R. rostrata with DP 30 size of 6.7–7.7 cm. whereas the petiole of R. hookeri has a smaller diameter, with a DP 30 size of 2.9–5.6 cm. Our single observation of R. rostrata was made in a swamp forest away from a stream whereas Couvreur and Sunderland (2022) reported from Cameroon that the species grows along fast flowing rivers.</p><p>Specimen examined.</p><p>Republic of the Congo. • Lékoumou. Ingoumina, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=13.830334&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.8871667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 13.830334/lat -2.8871667)">7 km from Zanaga on the road to Sibiti, c. 700 m W of the road</a>, 02°53.23'S, 013°49.82'E, 540 m, 30 Sep 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Harris 2743 (HICPC, E) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8B5C8E35EE3D57F09AD7FECD8A6BBEE7	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T.;Bouka, Gaël U. D.;Harris, David J.;Elenga, Raymond G.	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T., Bouka, Gaël U. D., Harris, David J., Elenga, Raymond G. (2026): Synopsis of the genus Raphia P. Beauv. (Arecaceae, Calamoideae) in the Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 271: 37-71, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.271.174506
AD2BD887FC625074A083B6A8CBFB9050.text	AD2BD887FC625074A083B6A8CBFB9050.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Raphia textilis Welw.	<div><p>Raphia textilis Welw. (Welwitsch 1859: 584)</p><p>Figs 18, 19</p><p>Description.</p><p>Palms 6 to 10 m high, 16 cm in diameter, solitary. Stipes not clustered, with flattened, curling and hanging fibres, forming belt-like structures up to 4.5 cm wide and breaking down to form smooth fibres 5–6 mm wide. Leaves 3.78–12 m long. Petiole laterally fluted from base to rachis, not spiny, 1.55–4 m long; DP 30 ranges between 5.0– 5.1 cm. Rachis 2.23–8 m long, laterally fluted, with a row of spines on each side of the cleft. Base of rachis uneven, with an offset of 11 cm between the two groups of basal leaflets. Basal leaflets, on either side of the rachis cleft, grouped into a tuft of 4–8 leaflets, 86–96 × 3.4–5 cm, 32–33 in the R 0-30 area of the rachis, with dorsal spines (on the main vein) 5 mm long and marginal spines 4 mm long. Inflorescences: 3–4 per individual, hanging, about 2.5 m long. Partial inflorescence 23 × 13 cm. Secondary inflorescences 13–17 × 2 cm long. Male flowers: corolla lobes 7–9 × 2 mm. Infructescence hanging, 3.80 m long. Fruits subglobose to obovoid, 5.3–6.5 × 4.8–5.2 cm, dark green when immature, becoming brownish and reddish when mature, truncated at the top with a 4 mm long beak.</p><p>Ecology.</p><p>Growing on tierra firme. The species is cultivated in Lékana village (Plateaux) for commercial purposes. It flowers and fruits in August.</p><p>Distribution.</p><p>Angola (including Cabinda), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon (Mogue Kamga et al. 2019; Tuley 1995), Republic of the Congo (this study); in the Republic of the Congo, the species occurs in Plateaux.</p><p>IUCN conservation assessment.</p><p>Raphia textilis has been assessed as Least Concern (LC) by Cosiaux et al. (2018 g), who recommend further collecting efforts to better understand the area of occupancy of the species.</p><p>Uses.</p><p>The epidermis of the young leaflets of Raphia textilis is used to make raffia loincloths in Lékana (Plateaux).</p><p>Vernacular names.</p><p>Piki, plural Apiki, in Téké (Plateaux).</p><p>Specimens examined.</p><p>Republic of the Congo. • Plateaux. <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=13.834333&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.8751667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 13.834333/lat -2.8751667)">Lékana</a>, 02°52.51'S, 013°50.06'E, 786 m, 13 Aug 2019, Ndolo Ebika &amp; Atikani 2702 (HICPC) .</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AD2BD887FC625074A083B6A8CBFB9050	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T.;Bouka, Gaël U. D.;Harris, David J.;Elenga, Raymond G.	Ndolo Ebika, Sydney T., Bouka, Gaël U. D., Harris, David J., Elenga, Raymond G. (2026): Synopsis of the genus Raphia P. Beauv. (Arecaceae, Calamoideae) in the Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 271: 37-71, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.271.174506
