Difference between revisions of "Livistona mariae"

Revision as of 12:04, 18 August 2015

Pronunciation: lih-vih-STONE-uh muh-REE/ muh-REE-uh

Common Name: Central Australian Fan Palm

Livistona mariae is a fairly commonly grown Australian palm in California, partly due to the juvenile forms having deep red to maroon foliage (which sadly does not persist past youth). For many years, Livistona rigida was included in this genus, but now, thanks to Dowe, has been returned to species status, though practically, telling them apart requires some expertise. As this palm matures, its leaves take on a off-grey-green appearance and only somewhat costapalmate. Leaves are among the largest of the Australian Livistonas, but its over all mature appearance is somewhat typical in its 'ribbon-leaf' appearance.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 25-40 fan leaves
Height: 50'
Trunk: single; 14" thick (perhaps a bit more at the base); ringed; light grey-brown; bottom of trunk has some retained leaf bases
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 18'-22'
Leaf Description: mildly costapalmate (nearly flat in younger palms); light green to grey-green (deep reddish-green when young, fading about time trunk begins to form); 10'-12' long; blade 5' across; crown tends to be somewhat sparse or irregular relative to some other Australian Livistonas
Petiole/Leaf bases: 7'-9' long; arching somewhat; armed with dark, sharp black teeth, at least proximally; sometimes toothless and smooth distally; un-split leaf bases, often retained bottom of trunk indefinitely, and along much of trunk in younger palms
Reproduction: monoecious, though functionally dioecious (trees 'act as male or female, though the latter can often self-fertilize)
Inflorescence: 3'-6' long; from within leaves
Fruit: spherical; 1/2"-3/4" thick; black when ripe; single groove around much of circumference

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 25F
Drought Tolerance: good
Dry Heat Tolerance: good
Cool Tolerance: good
Wind Tolerance: moderate to good
Salt Tolerance: moderate
Growth Rate: moderate to fast with age
Soil Preference: adaptable
Light Requirement: full sun
Human Hazards: sharp petiolar teeth
Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
Transplants?: unknown
Indoor?: unknown
Availability: rare

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 '''''Livistona mariae''''' is a fairly commonly grown Australian palm in California, partly due to the juvenile forms having deep red to maroon foliage (which sadly does not persist past youth).  For many years, Livistona rigida was included in this genus, but now, thanks to Dowe, has been returned to species status, though practically, telling them apart requires some expertise.  As this palm matures, its leaves take on a off-grey-green appearance and only somewhat costapalmate.  Leaves are among the largest of the Australian Livistonas, but its over all mature appearance is somewhat typical in its 'ribbon-leaf' appearance.
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 File:Livistona mariae DN.jpg|Palm Desert, California

Difference between revisions of "Livistona mariae"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 12:04, 18 August 2015