The oil palms consist of 2 types of the Arecaceae, or Palm family. They are utilized in commercial agriculture in the manufacture of palm oil. The African Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis is indigenous to west Africa, happening in between Angola and Gambia, while American Oil Palm Elaeis oleifera is indigenous to  Central America and South America. The common name comes from the Greek for oil, elaion, as the species name comes from its area of origin.