Licuala malajana
Licuala (lik-oo-AH-lah) malajana (mah-lah-JAHN-ah) | |||||||
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Nong Nooch, Botanic Garden, Thailand. Photo by Paul Craft. | |||||||
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Contents
Habitat and Distribution
Malaysia, and Thailand. Licuala malajana is restricted to Peninsular Malaysia and southern Thailand.
L. malajana is moderately common in lowland or montane evergreen wet forest in southern peninsular Thailand from 300-1500 m elevation (Hodel 1998). It also occurs in Peninsular Malaysia, where it grows in ridge-top dipterocarp forest with Eugisson atristis, Nenga sp. and it is described as common and dominant in the understorey of logged over dipterocarp forest (Specimen no. 39882 Saw, L.G.). It is recorded as locally common from many localities (Barfod & Saw 2002). It has been found at elevations above 800m in hill dipterocarp forest (Saw 1997)Description
Small palm from Thailand and Malaysia with big, deeply divided, circular fan leaves. Would make a superb pot plant, otherwise tropical in its requirements.
Culture
Tropical Moist Forest, Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b
Comments and Curiosities
There are two subspecies; L. malajana var. malajana, from Peninsular Thailand into north Peninsular Malaysia, and L. malajana var. humilis, A stemless, solitary variety of L. malajana with smaller leaf segments, native to the Malay Peninsula in Malaysia, which is endemic to Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia.
External Links
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
Glossary of Palm Terms; Based on the glossary in Dransfield, J., N.W. Uhl, C.B. Asmussen-Lange, W.J. Baker, M.M. Harley & C.E. Lewis. 2008. Genera Palmarum - Evolution and Classification of the Palms. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. All images copyright of the artists and photographers (see images for credits).
Many Special Thanks to Ed Vaile for his long hours of tireless editing and numerous contributions.