Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Livistona rigida Becc.


Palm, pandan or cycad
Tree
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Flowers [not vouchered]. © J.L. Dowe
Fruit, whole and in longitudinal section to reveal seed coat intrusion [not vouchered]. © J.L. Dowe
Crown with inflorescences [not vouchered]. © J.L. Dowe
In riparian habitat [not vouchered]. © J.L. Dowe
Family

Beccari, O. (1921) Webbia; raccolta di scritti botanici 5(1): 19. Type: Nord Australia: Albert River nel Golfo di Carpentaria (Erb. di Kew). Collettore ignoto.

Common name

Mataranka fan palm; Lawn Hill fan palm

Stem

Trunk mostly solitary but sometimes with 3 stems together and slightly curved, up to 23 m tall, up to 40 cm DBH and tapering upwards to a constant diameter of 30 cm with a bulbous base 40-50 cm diameter; petiole-stubs present at the extreme base. Plants functionally male or female.

Leaves

Lamina ca. 160 cm long; primary division 50% and the bifurcation depth 50%. Adaxial lamina surface glaucous. The rachis bracts are rather densely clothed with persistent white scales especially towards the apex, though usually with some relatively bare areas especially on the lower part of the bract.

Flowers

Inflorescence 100-250 cm long. Flowers in clusters of 3-8, globose c. 1.8 mm long; sepals broadly ovate, c. 2 mm long, acute, cream-yellow; petals triangular 1-1.4 mm long, obtuse, cream to yellow; stamens c. 1.2 mm long.

Fruit

Ripe fruits are 12-14 x 13-16 mm, globose and glossy black. Seeds are 10.5-12.0 mm long.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

Occurs in the NT and in the far western parts of NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 400 m. Grows along stream and river banks and adjacent flat areas with a permanent water supply.

Synonyms
Livistona mariae subsp. rigida (Becc.) Rodd, Telopea 8(1): 80(1998).
RFK Code
7027
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