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Raphia Palm Leaf

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Raphia Palm Leaf

The longest leaf of any plant on Earth/Biology & Ecosystems

The raphia palm (Raphia regalis) produces the longest leaves of any plant species, with individual leaves reaching up to 25 meters in length and 3 meters in width. Native to tropical Africa, the palm itself can grow to 16 meters tall. The enormous pinnate leaves have been used for centuries to make raffia fiber for weaving, roofing, and rope. Each leaf can weigh over 100 kg and consists of hundreds of leaflets arranged along a central midrib.

Measurements

Leaf length25 m
44.6 billionSalt crystals
83.4Light-nanoseconds
1,396Dime diameters
Leaf width3 m
8.1 tenthsKayaks
1.5 tenthsWindmill heights
Single leaf mass100 kg
2 trillionYeast cells
40,000US pennies
Tree height16 m
3.6 hundredthsEmpire State Buildings
16Guitar lengths
281House keys
Leaf area50 m^2
35.7Office desks
4.76Trampoline surfaces

Approximate total surface area

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