Amazing flowers of the Oil Palm

In 2014 I have a chance to know more about the oil palm. And one of my photographic pursuits is to capture the images of the female flowers. It is not an easy task...

Female spikelets of the Oil Palm. Photo by Rhett Butler, taken in malaysia

Receptive female flowers

Pollinated female flowers

Planters and field workers have to be very perceptive in the estate. Any change in colour in leaves, any change in colour in flowers must be observed and noted (in their little green book). Sometimes a good sixth sense also helps according to one of the new friends I have met, SEM Jimbau Timbai. (SOP)

After pollination, a ‘female’ flower will bear fruitlets around its bunch. A single bunch of oil palm contains an average of 2,000 – 3,000 palm fruitlets - See more at: http://www.mpoc.org.my/ImageOfTheMonth.aspx?ddlID=657f08e6-5526-446e-977e-b3ff442ff7b3&catID=443754e8-d761-426b-b92a-90fb0ffc1e63&Page=3#sthash.JRVWKEr4.dpuf

(  Pollinated flowers can bear more than 1000 little fruits in a bunch -  http://www.mpoc.org.my/ImageOfTheMonth.aspx?ddlID=657f08e6-5526-446e-977e-b3ff442ff7b3&catID=443754e8-d761-426b-b92a-90fb0ffc1e63&Page=3 )

After pollination, a ‘female’ flower will bear fruitlets around its bunch. A single bunch of oil palm contains an average of 2,000 – 3,000 palm fruitlets - See more at: http://www.mpoc.org.my/ImageOfTheMonth.aspx?ddlID=657f08e6-5526-446e-977e-b3ff442ff7b3&catID=443754e8-d761-426b-b92a-90fb0ffc1e63&Page=3#sthash.JRVWKEr4.dpuf

After pollination, a ‘female’ flower will bear fruitlets around its bunch. A single bunch of oil palm contains an average of 2,000 – 3,000 palm fruitlets - See more at: http://www.mpoc.org.my/ImageOfTheMonth.aspx?ddlID=657f08e6-5526-446e-977e-b3ff442ff7b3&catID=443754e8-d761-426b-b92a-90fb0ffc1e63&Page=3#sthash.JRVWKEr4.dpuf

Unfortunately I have not been able to photograph the female flowers of the oil palm myself. Meanwhile I have googled these for you. Perhaps it will take a while. One day, I will be able to capture some female flowers...

Ref :

Authors:

L.Saravanan, P.Kalidas, T.Phanikumar and K.Ravi Babu

Scientist (Ag.Entomology), Directorate of Oil Palm Research,

Pedavegi-534 450, West Godavari (Dt.) Andhra Pradesh

Email:laxmansaravanars@gmail.com