Scientific Name : Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart.
Common Name : Chinese Fan-palm
Chinese Name : 蒲葵, 葵樹
Family : ARECACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origins | South China, Vietnam and South Japan. |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Coastal forests with sandy soil. |
| Ecology | Chinese Fan-palm is the habitat of Short-nosed Fruit Bats (Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl, 1797)) that are commonly found getting rest under its leaves. |
| Applications | The usage of the leaves of Chinese Fan-palm is diverse. Not only can it be used to make fans, hats and brooms, but also was used to make raincoats in the past. The leaf fibre can be made into toothpicks. Applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine, its seeds and leaves have the functions of promoting blood circulation for eliminating stasis, astringency and relieving hemorrhagem. Chinese Fan-palm is an evergreen plant with umbrella-shaped crown. Growing well under hot and humid climate with the tolerance of shade and wind, it is commonly used as ornamental plants and street trees in tropical and subtropical regions. |
| Meanings of name | The English name “Chinese Fan-palm” suggests the function of its leaves which can be made into fans. |
| Growing habit | Tree-like palm. |
|---|---|
| Height | To 20 m. |
| Stems | Bark of main stem brown, with rings of leaf scar, diameter about 20 to 30 cm. |
| Leaves | Palmatipartite. Blades circular to sub-rounded in outline, about 1 m in diameter. Divided into 50 to 90 segments at about ½ diameter. Segments linear-lanceolate in shape, long acuminate at apex. Each segment further splits into two filiform lobelets, pendulous at apices, 20 to 30 cm in length. |
| Flowers | White to yellow. Inflorescences dividing into 6 to 7 partial inflorescences, looking like fireworks. |
| Fruits | Blackish blue when mature. Ellipsoid, globose to pear-shape. Shaped like olives. |
| Seeds | One seed in a fruit, blackish brown, ellipsoid. |
| Flowering period | March to April in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | May to July in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=6777
Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Livistona chinensis (Jacquin) R. Brown ex Martius
― Plants of the World Online : Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart.