Economic Botany Collection

Catalogue no.:

35596

Botanical classification:

PALMAE Elaeis guineensis

Common name:

African oil palm

Geographical description:

Sierra Leone, Africa

Item description:

Seeds, brooches and rings

Length:

Seed- 3.5cm long
Brooches-2cm high, 2.5 and 3cm wide
Rings-2.3cm diameter

No. of beads:

1 seed, 2 brooches and 2 rings

Additional information:

Notes accompanying object: 'Brooches and rings made from seeds by a Californian emigrant at Rio Janeiro, from seeds brought from Sierra Leone.'

Plant information:

Medium tree up to 15m native to Africa. It is cultivated for oil from the fruits.

Donor:

William Grant Milne ( - 1866) - Was born in Scotland and worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. He was a botanist on the HMS Herald’s expedition to South America and the South Pacific.