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Livistona drudei

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Livistona drudei F.Muell. ex Drude

Family Name: Arecaceae (Palmae)
Common Name: Halifax Fan Palm, Cabbage Palm

Livistona drudei, also known as Halifax Fan Palm, is a solitary palm that can reach up to 28 m tall. The petiole is distinctively purple at the basal area and its margin is armed with curved reddish spines. Coarse fibers are prominent and persistent at the base of the petiole.

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form Palm
Lifespan (in Singapore) Perennial
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic
Maximum Height 28 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution Australia
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical
Local Conservation Status Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form It is a palm that can reach up to 28 m tall and has a solitary growth habit. Stem can reach up to 15 – 20 cm in diameter and is ringed with narrow leaf scars.
Foliage Leaves are fan-shaped (costapalmate), about 1 – 1.5 m long, and deeply divided for 60 – 70% of the length. Leaves are regularly segmented and can have 60 – 84 segments each. The tip of the segment is pendulous with forked cleft (bifurcate). The petiole can reach 1.5 – 2.3 m long and is armed with curved reddish spines along the margin. Coarse fibers are prominent and persistent at the base of the petiole. The petiole is distinctively purple at the basal area.
Flowers Inflorescence occurs between the leaves (interfoliar) and can reach 1.5 – 3 m long. It comprises of many small cream to yellow flowers. Flower is funnel-shaped (1.7 – 2.2 mm long) with fleshy petals and narrowly triangular sepals.
Fruit Fruit is round to pear-shaped (pyriform) and can reach up to 1 – 1.1 cm diameter. The surface of the fruit has scattered lenticellular pores. Fruit also has suture line that extends to about half the length of the fruit. It turns purple-black when mature. Each fruit contains 1 seed within.
Habitat It is found in coastal forests, landward side of mangrove forests, swamp forests and along streams and estuaries, up to 100 m altitude.
Associated Fauna Flowers are pollinated by insects.
Cultivation It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology The genus commemorates Sir Patrick Murray (1632 – 1671), 2nd Lord of Elibank and 17th century Baron of Livingstone, who donated his private plant collection after his death and helped found the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. The specific epithet commemorates Carl Georg Oscar Drude (1852 – 1933), a German botanist and biogeographer, who contributed to the mapping of the world’s different floristic zones.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses Coastal, General
Usage Hazard - Cons Spines/Thorns - Leaf
Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks Petioles are armed with short spines.

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s) Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Moderate

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Foliar Type Compound
Foliar Shape(s) Palm Fronds (Fan / Costapalmate)
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio 2.5 (Palm - Solitary)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Palm) Solitary Habit, Aboveground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Purple, Black
Fruit Type Fleshy Fruit
Seed Quantity Per Fruit Few (1-5)

References

References Dowe, J.L. (2009). A taxonomic account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae). Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 60: 185-344.

Others

Master ID 1358
Species ID 2651
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 24 August 2023.
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