Economic Botany Collection

Catalogue no.:

41 (temporary)

Botanical classification:

PALMAE Hyphaene thebaica

Common name:

Doum palm

Geographical description:

Kenya

Item description:

Necklace made of doum palm seeds, with ostrich egg shell and metal beads

Length:

74cm

No. of beads:

5

Bead size:

4cm long

Plant information:

Drought tolerant, branching palm native to coastal north eastern Africa.

Donor date:

1985

Donor:

Ruth Smith has spent many years collecting botanical jewellery from around the world and donated her large collection to Kew in 2005. It numbers over 200 items, made from various plant parts such as seeds and bark, from a wide range of species.