Livistona chinensis
(Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart.
Arecaceae
Chamaerops biroo Siebold ex Mart.
Latania chinensis Jacq.
Livistona japonica Nakai ex Masam.
Livistona mauritiana Wall. ex Mart.
Livistona oliviformis (Hassk.) Mart.
Livistona sinensis Griff.
Livistona subglobosa (Hassk.) Mart.
Saribus chinensis (Jacq.) Blume
Saribus oliviformis Hassk.
Saribus subglobosus Hassk.
Common Name: Chinese Fan Palm
General Information
Livistona chinensis is an evergreen, fan-leaved, solitary-stemmed palm tree with an unbranched stem up to 15 metres tall and around 20 - 30cm in diameter. The stem is topped by a dense crown of leaves[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1968- Title
- Palms of Southern Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
- Henderson A.
- Publisher
- Princeton University Press, New York
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
- 978-0-691-13449-9
- Description
- An excellent concise guide
].
The plants is both harvested from the wild and also cultivated for its leaves, which are widely used to make fans in China, as well as being used to make hats, brooms, raincoats etc[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
]. The plant is also widely grown as an ornamental in the tropics and subtropics[
].
Livistona chinensis is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2009)[
1970- Title
- A Taxonomic Account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae)
- Publication
- A Taxonomic Account of Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 60(2): 185-344. 2009
- Author
- Dowe J.L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, detailed work, though it is a shame it does not include information on traditional and other uses.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
1970- Title
- A Taxonomic Account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae)
- Publication
- A Taxonomic Account of Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 60(2): 185-344. 2009
- Author
- Dowe J.L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, detailed work, though it is a shame it does not include information on traditional and other uses.
Range
E. Asia - southern China, Taiwan, southern Japan.
Habitat
Coastal forests on various soils, often in sand, sometimes in dense mono-specific colonies, otherwise in small isolated colonies; at elevations up to 100 metres[
1970- Title
- A Taxonomic Account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae)
- Publication
- A Taxonomic Account of Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 60(2): 185-344. 2009
- Author
- Dowe J.L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2009
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, detailed work, though it is a shame it does not include information on traditional and other uses.
].
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 12.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Livistona chinensis is a plant mainly of the subtropics, though it is widely grown as an ornamental from the warm temperate zone to the tropics[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
Prefers a position in light shade[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
]. Prefers a sunny, moist position, but it is a tough, easy to grow palm, that is tolerant of a wide range of conditions[
314- Title
- Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
].
Widely cultivated through the tropics and subtropics, the seed is spread by birds who eat the fruits germinates, it germinates easily and has been recorded as escaping from cultivation. It has been designated invasive in some Pacific Islands[
].
A slow-growing species[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The leaves are used for making fans[
]. They are also used for manufacturing rain hats and coats, brooms etc[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
].
The fibres, extracted from the sheath and the petiole of the leaves, are made into cordage[
].
Propagation
Seed - when sown fresh it can germinate in 1 - 2 months[
362- Title
- Dominica Botanic Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.da-academy.org/trees_shrubs.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line resource, providing top quality pictures and some basic information on various plants being grown at the Botanic Gardens, often including uses and habitat.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
