Licuala ramsayi

Licuala (lik-oo-AH-lah) ramsayi (rahmz'-eh)
Flowers on conservatory plant, Southern California. Photo by Geoff Stein
Scientific Classification
Genus: Licuala (lik-oo-AH-lah) Species: ramsayi (rahmz'-eh)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
Oceania
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Costapalmate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Chakoro

Habitat and Distribution

The main areas where Licuala ramsayi naturally occurs is near Mission Beach (Licuala Rainforest), Tully, Daintree River and Cape Tribulation. However, pockets of Chakoro can also be found in the Bloomfield River area. This palm can grow to breathtaking heights and in the Licuala Rainforest, it appears as the main afforestation. In Australia, the latitudinal range of the tree is 11-19°S, it probably extend north to about 5°S. It occur at elevations between sea level and 450 m. It is mostly found within 20 km of the coast.

Daintree Rainforest, Queensland, Australia.

Description

A medium sized, single stemmed palm, usually up to 15 m in height, though it can reach 25 m. The stem is normally quite straight and slender and up to 20 cm in diameter. The crown consists of large fan-shaped leaves. The leaves up to 2 meters long, with feather-like fronds give this palm a gracefull appearance. The leaflets are bright green above with a silvery underside. A handsome flower skirt has cream flowers, followed by red fruit. COMMON NAMES Wedge leaflet fan palm, Hessian hair fan palm. Editing by edric

Culture

The Australian Fan Palm likes a rainforest situation. A shady position and plenty of moisture is all what is needed to grow Licuala ramsayi successfully. This is one of the most cold tolerant of the Licualas, (apart from L. spinosa), but is still a tropical/sub-tropical plant, and definately not frost hardy. As a youngster it prefers quite heavy shade, but its an emergent plant so adults are sun-hardy. Unfortunately, it is a very slow grower, but its still a highly desirable plant for a warm shady nook. Tropical Moist Forest, Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a

Comments and Curiosities

There are two subspecies;

1.) Licuala ramsayi var. ramsayi.

2.) Licuala ramsayi var. tuckeri, Distribution: Queensland, Australia. Distributed in northern Queensland, from Moa Island in Torres Strait, throughout coastal or near-coastal Cape York Peninsula, to about north of Cooktown, with population centers in Lockerbie Scrub, Jardine R., Nesbit R., Wenlock R., Iron Range and Silver Plains area. Description: Solitary palm; leaf sheath remains attached to the leaf; petiole unarmed or with few, small spines at the base; flowers mostly solitary; floral buds bullet shaped at anthesis; calyx sclereified and truncate basally; floral buds bullet shaped before anthesis; anthers 0.3-0.4 mm long, persistent and conspicuous long after anthesis in between corolla lobes; corolla apex turning black after anthesis. Licuala ramsayi var. tuckeri has become common in cultivation and is reputedly more amenable to cultivation than L. ramsayi var. ramsayi.