Licuala grandis

Moreton Bay rays Palm ( Licuala grandis)

The Moreton Bay rays Palm ( Licuala grandis) is a species of the genus of rays palms ( Licuala ) in the palm family ( Arecaceae ).

Features

The Moreton Bay rays palm is a small, single-stemmed fan palm. The very thin, encased by petiole remains trunk reaches stature heights of 2 to 3 meters. The relatively large, dense crown consists of rounded leaves. The leaves are dark green, shiny, undivided, 90 inches wide, slightly wider than long and have a little cut edge. Each segment of the sheets is V-shaped and has at the top teeth 2. The inflorescences are pendulous and up to 5 meters long. On the branches of the three to four thickened lateral branches are 1 centimeter big yellow hermaphrodite flowers. The fruits are drupe -like, shiny crimson berries. These are located on thick stems and are surrounded at its base by the sepals.

Occurrence

The natural range of broad-leaved palm rays confined to the island of New Britain.

Use

Because of the striking leaves the species is often planted as an ornamental plant in tropical gardens.

Pictures

Fruit stand

Fruits

Documents

• Andreas Bärtels: Colour Atlas Tropical Plants: ornamental and useful plants. Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart ( Hohenheim) 1996, ISBN 3-8001-3480-2.