Licuala grandis

Licuala (lik-oo-AH-lah)
grandis (GRAHN-dis)

Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens, Thailand.

Scientific Classification

Genus:	Licuala (lik-oo-AH-lah)
Species:	grandis (GRAHN-dis)

Synonyms

None set.

Native Continent

Oceania

Morphology

Habit:	Solitary
Leaf type:	Palmate

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

Ruffled Fan Leaf Palm, Vanuata fan palm, Palas payung, Ruffled lantan palm.

Habitat and Distribution

Malaya, Santa Cruz Is., Society Is., and Vanuatu. Native to lowland rainforests of the Soloman Islands, and Vanuatu.

Hawaii.

Description

Solitary trunk of up to 3 m in height and 5-6 cm in diam., Leaf circular, undivided and regularly pleated leaf; about 22 inch or more in diameter with a notched edge, with the old dry leaves persisting. Editing by edriic.

Culture

Licuala grandis likes moist soil and - when mature - is comfortable in full sun as long as the humidity is high. In the sub-tropics, where there are longer periods without rain this palm requires some shade and regular watering. Although there are Licuala grandis known to have survived temperatures of -1.5° C. it is advisable to plant this palm in regions only where temperatures do not fall below 3 degrees C.

Comments and Curiosities

The Licuala grandis is a truly out of the ordinary palm.It's beauty is deraigned from it's magnificient fan-like fronds, which dominate the palm at it's early age. I purchased a Licuala grandis from the Fairchild sale in November of 2003. It was a small palm and has prospered in a somewhat shaded location.It is far from a fast grower but is now over 3 feet tall. This is in the Palm Beach area and it has weathered easily a temperature of 40F. A year later, this specimen is finally trunking. On another interesting note, I found numerous 8 to 10 foot tall slender trunked specimens at Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach,Florida. Editing by edric.

Perhaps the most difficult weather condition experienced was our suceesion of Hurricanes and particularly Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The large fronds are simply not designed for wind exposure.The largest and most stunning specimens I have viewed were at Fairchild Gardens. These mature specimens are 10 to 15 feet tall with intriguing slender wood trunks. A curator estimated their age at close to fifty years.

Well known by now for its large, circular, simple, undivided and closely pleated leaves, this Licuala makes an unusual plant for indoors or out. The seed germinates readily and grows slowly but steadily in the tropical or warm subtropical garden, producing a slim trunk in the process. It can be planted in sun or full shade but should be out of the wind. (RPS.com)

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).

IMAGE GALLERY
Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens, Thailand.
Hawaii.
Kuching, Sarawack.
Indoors, Malibu, California.
Hawaii. Photo by BGL, edric.
Hakahau town, Ua Pou, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Photo by Dr. S.P. Perlman, edric.
Hakahau town, Ua Pou, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Photo by Dr. S.P. Perlman, edric.
Hakahau town, Ua Pou, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Photo by Dr. S.P. Perlman, edric.
Photo by Dr. Kurt Stueber, edric.
Photo by Dr. Kurt Stueber, edric.
Photo by Dr. Kurt Stueber, edric.
Photo by Dr. Kurt Stueber, edric.
Photo by Dr. Kurt Stueber, edric.
Moorea, French Polynesia. Photo by Dr. Marie Fourdrigniez, edric.
Moorea, French Polynesia. Photo by Dr. Marie Fourdrigniez, edric.
Atocha train station, Madrid, Spain. Photo by Dr. Isidro Martínez, edric.
Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Photo by Dr. Ahmad Fuad Morad, edric.
Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Photo by Dr. Ahmad Fuad Morad, edric.
Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Photo by Dr. Ahmad Fuad Morad, edric.
Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Photo by Dr. Ahmad Fuad Morad, edric.
Botanischer Garten, Berlin-Dahlem (Berlin Botanical Garden), Berlin, Germany. Photo by Daderot, edric.
Photo-Maryland Nursery, edric.
Photo by Chris King, edric.
Photo by Mike Gray, edric.
Photo by Mike Gray, edric.
Hawaii.
Variegated form Thailand.
Wahiawa Botanical Gardens, Oahu Hawaii.
Thailand.
Thailand.
Hawaii.
Bangkok, Thailand.
Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden.
Photo by Rudolf, edric.
Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
Photo by Jeff Searle, Searle Brothers Nursery, FL, edric.
Photo by Jeff Searle, Searle Brothers Nursery, FL, edric.
Central Lamina Split, Absent, Entire, Many Fold, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Bogor, Java, Indonesia. Photo by Dr. John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew/Palmweb.
Coral Bay, Miami FL. Photo by Kyle Wicomb, edric.
Darwin, NT, Australia. Photo by ariscott, edric.
Photo by Vivero de Palmas, edric.
Photo by Vivero de Palmas, edric.
Rare Palm Seeds.com