Oils from under-utilised palm and forest products

Palms are one of the most important and widespread plant families, rightly called the Prince of the Plant Kingdom by Linnaeus. More than 2500 species in 225 genera are distributed in both hemispheres and from desert to rainforests and swamps. 

They have been put to a very wide range of uses by indigenous peoples, including food, drink, medicines, fibre and constructional material. 

When considering palms as a source of vegetable oil, by far the most important today are the oil palm Elaeis guineensis) and the coconut palm Cocos nucifera), both of which are now cultivated in many countries on a large scale. A summary of information on these two major crops will provide a yardstick for evaluating the data available on as yet underutilised palms. 

---

Oils from under-utilised palm and forest products... 

---