NE Africa: semi - desert, desert, to 600 m; hardy to 25 degrees latitude. Heavy crops of edible, hard - shelled fruit; edible heart; sap for wine; fruit for medicinal use, the fruit rind dried is made into molasses; unripe kernels are edible; leaves are used for weaving. Dioecious; cultivated since ancient times; local products only; promising desert palm. Deep rooting in early stages so requires deep pots or site planting; branched fan palm. Unimproved.
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