Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart. (ARECACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Chinese Fan Palm

Description

Solitary fan-leafed palm to 14 m tall, c. 30 cm diameter. Crown roundish, densely packed with 40-60 leaves. Petiole c. 1.8 m long with spines along the margin; blade c. 1.8 m across, nearly circular, segment tips pendulous. Inflorescence much branched, c. 1.5 m long bearing small white blossoms. Fruits globose to ovoid, c. 2.5 cm across, glossy greenish blue to pale green when mature.


Ecology

Occurs naturally in open woodlands.

Distribution

Southern Japanese islands, Taiwan, Hainan Island, China.

Uses

Very popular as an ornamental.