Livistona nitida

W. robusta on left. Gold Coast, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.

Livistona (lih-vis-TOH-nuh) nitida (nih-tih'-duh)

Gold Coast, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.

Scientific Classification

Genus:	Livistona (lih-vis-TOH-nuh)
Species:	nitida (nih-tih'-duh)

Synonyms

Livistona sp. 'Carnarvon Gorge'

Native Continent

Oceania

Morphology

Habit:	Solitary
Leaf type:	Pinnate

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

Carnarvon Palm

Habitat and Distribution

Carnarvon National Park in central Queensland, Australia. It is common in the Carnarvon and nearby Isla Gorges where it grows along stream banks and on rocky escarpments. eucalyptus forest areas at an elevation of about 3300 feet.

Description

A tall solitary fan palm to 30m (100ft), with bright green, deeply divided leaves, with long, drooping leaf tips, up to 4.5m (18ft) long, and which form an open crown. It has numerous glossy black fruits that are about 2cm (0.8in) in diameter.

Culture

"L. nitida has done very well in Augusta, GA. Grows much faster with ample water, but does fine without it. Two winters in a row, it was covered in snow for several days. There was some leaf damage, but the palm grew like crazy the following Spring with no spear pull. Lows that it has endured are in the low 20's. The palm is 12' tall after six years from a 5-gal. container." (J. Levert), edric.

Comments and Curiosities

"Have a lot of experience with this exceptionally hardy Livistona species, only it's not that unique looking- in fact as a seedling up to a young adult, it can look a lot like a Washingtonia. Is one of the fastest growing Livistona species, and as adult, looks similar to Livistona australis- droopy, somewhat wide, deeply split fan leaves. As seedling, though, leaves fairly stiff and like a small Washingtonia, only with a slightly more costapalmate look (division down the middle where the leaflets divide from). Hard to kill this palm off- likes water, but if doesn't get any, doesn' care. Very cold hardy." (Geoff Stein), edric.

"About 14 yrs ago I obtained some Livistona nitida seed. I had seen seedlings surviving under canopy in the Canberra Botanic gardens. A self-addressed envelope to the ranger at Isla Gorge National Park soon provided a packet of seed - all of which germnated. Shortly after we built a new house on a bare 1/4 acre block. Growth rates varied remarkably. The biggest is now about 4 metres with a well formed trunk. Others which are beyond the irrigation zone or met stiff competition are still barely ankle high. Noteworthy is their tolerance of frost and potentially speedy growth in our harsh climate. We get down to -8°C in Canberra and even seedlings will survive in the open. Growth rates are also much better in the open. They do better in this climate than L. australis , although the latter is still quite frost tolerant. L. nitida does not like to be transplanted but will eventually come good. Be prepared for all the leaves to die back. (I suspect they are adapted to drier climates than L. australis and have a spreading root system). (Ian Knight), edric.

External Links

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos, edric.

Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos, edric.

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
A very large tree. Gold Coast, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
A very large tree. Gold Coast, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
W. robusta on left. Gold Coast, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
Gold Coast, Queensland. Photo by Daryl O'Connor, edric.
Dawson River, Queensland. Photo by Mike Crisp, edric.
Dawson River, Queensland. Photo by Mike Crisp, edric.
Dawson River, Queensland. Photo by Mike Crisp, edric.
Dawson River, Queensland. Photo by Mike Crisp, edric.
Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Photo by Dr. Tony Rodd, edric.
Naples, Italy. Photo by Gyuseppe, edric.
Palm shadow, Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. The "guest" is a sand goanna (Varanus gouldii). – Scan from color slide (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Carnarvon Gorge, the habitat of Livistona nitida, Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Carnarvon Gorge, the habitat of Livistona nitida, Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Carnarvon Gorge, the habitat of Livistona nitida, Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. A very tall Livistona (30 m?), This is a scan from the film negative, and not from a paper print. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Carnarvon Gorge, the habitat of Livistona nitida, Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. Livistona nitida, endemic to Carnarvon Gorge and environment. This is a scan from the film negative, and not from a paper print. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Carnarvon Gorge, the habitat of Livistona nitida, Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. Livistona nitida, endemic to Carnarvon Gorge and environment. Even the smallest ones, can withstand full sun. This is a scan from the film negative, and not from a paper print. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
On the road to Carnarvon National Park, QLD., Australia. The Livistona palms were the only trees which withstood a heavy bushfire before (caused by deforestation); even the eucalyptus trees did not. This is a scan from the film negative, and not from a paper print. (Sep. 1979) Photo by Paul Meir, edric.
Sydney Botanic Gardens. Photo by Dr. Tony Rodd, edric.
Carnarvon Gorge (near the camp ground), north-west of Injune, Queensland, Australia. Photographed on 17 July 1975. Photo by Arthur Chapman, edric.
Carnarvon Gorge (near the camp ground), north-west of Injune, Queensland, Australia. Photographed on 17 July 1975. Photo by Arthur Chapman, edric.
Dawson River, Carnarvon Range, eastern Queensland, Australia. Photo by Bruce Ironmonger, edric.
Dawson River, Carnarvon Range, eastern Queensland, Australia. Photo by Bruce Ironmonger, edric.
Dawson River, Carnarvon Range, eastern Queensland, Australia. Photo by Bruce Ironmonger, edric.
Dawson River, Carnarvon Range, eastern Queensland, Australia. Photo by Bruce Ironmonger, edric.
Near Taroom Village, along "Palm Creek", Dawson River, Carnarvon Range, eastern Queensland, Australia. Photo by Bruce Ironmonger, edric.
Near Taroom Village, along "Palm Creek", Dawson River, Carnarvon Range, eastern Queensland, Australia. Photo by Bruce Ironmonger, edric.
Near Taroom Village, along "Palm Creek", Dawson River, Carnarvon Range, eastern Queensland, Australia. Photo by Bruce Ironmonger, edric.
Near Taroom Village, along "Palm Creek", Dawson River, Carnarvon Range, eastern Queensland, Australia. Photo by Bruce Ironmonger, edric.
Corpus Christi, Texas. Photo by Jon Watson, edric.
Northeast Texas zone 8a. This palm has seen 19 F. two years in ground. Photo by James Carey, edric.
Corona, CA. Photo by Randy, edric.
Hardee County, Florida. Photo-Fish Branch Tree Farm, edric.
Hardee County, Florida. Photo-Fish Branch Tree Farm, edric.
Hardee County, Florida. Photo-Fish Branch Tree Farm, edric.
Hardee County, Florida. Photo-Fish Branch Tree Farm, edric.
Huntington Gardens, Pasadena California. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Riverside California. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
Huntington Gardens, Pasadena California. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.
SoCal. Photo by Geoff Stein, edric.