A multifunctional plant
The palm-wine tree, often simply called the palm tree in many West African communities, is far more than a source of sweet, fermented sap.
For generations, it has served as a multifunctional plant whose parts support daily life, craftwork, and traditional practices.
Palm wine tree has the following parts : the crown,trunk,flower spadix,sap,roots.
One fascinating yet lesser-known use involves the dark brown, fibrous ropes that grow naturally around the stem.
These rough, tough fibers are formed from layers of old fronds and hard leaf bases,they have long been valued for their durability. But in some interior villages, they also serve a unique hygienic purpose which is scraping the tongue.
These ropes form when old palm fronds fall away, leaving behind a spiral of coarse, textured material wrapped around the trunk.
In earlier times, before modern toothbrushes and tongue scrapers reached rural areas, these natural fibers were harvested and trimmed into short, handheld strips.
Elders often selected pieces that were flexible enough to bend yet rough enough to clean. When softened slightly with water, these strips became makeshift tools for maintaining oral hygiene.
This palm rope was effective for removing the thin white coating called “mouth stain” or “morning tongue”,that accumulates after sleep or after eating strong-flavored foods.
Although plastic tongue scrapers and modern dental tools are now more widely accessible, the practice still survives in a few interior communities.
Older villagers, especially those who grew up relying on natural resources, continue to teach children how to use these palm fibers safely.
They consider it both a cultural habit and an example of resourcefulness,turning something as humble as a palm tree’s discarded ropes into a simple, effective tool for personal care.
Thus, the palm-wine tree remains a symbol of traditional ingenuity. Its dark brown ropes remind us that everyday plants can hold surprising uses, shaped by generations of observation and adaptation.