Hyphaene – Main objectives of the project

a.- Modern taxonomic revision of the genus, including the study of the structural biology (morphology, histology and anatomy) of vegetative and reproductive organs;
   
b.- Phylogenetic reconstruction, including analyses of the age and divergence time between lineages, and population genetic studies on the currently recognized species;

c.- Phytogeographical and ecological characterization, including conservation status assessment of the taxa studied according to the IUCN guidelines;

d.- Ethnobotanical inventory of common names and uses associated with all taxa.

Hyphaene thebaica (5 km south-east from Djibouti). Goats threaten these palm populations by feeding on the fruits and the plantlets