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Useful Temperate Plants

Livistona australis

(R.Br.) Mart.

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Corypha australis R.Br.

Common Name: Cabbage Palm

Livistona australis
Growing plants
Photograph by: Dowe, J.L.
Image credit to Australian National Botanic Gardens
Livistona australis Livistona australis Livistona australis Livistona australis Livistona australis Livistona australis Livistona australis Livistona australis Livistona australis

General Information

Livistona australis is a large, attractive, solitary-stemmed, evergreen palm with an unbranched stem that can grow up to 25 metres tall and 25 - 40cm in diameter; this is topped by a globose crown of 35 - 60 fan-shaped leaves with petioles 150 - 250cm long and leaf blades 100 - 130cm wide[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
,
1970
Title
A Taxonomic Account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae)
Publication
A Taxonomic Account of Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 60(2): 185-344. 2009
Author
Dowe J.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, detailed work, though it is a shame it does not include information on traditional and other uses.
].
The apical bud was a favourite food of the Australian Aborigines and early white settlers, though this is rarely eaten nowadays since doing so leads to the death of the plant. The plant is often cultivated as an ornamental .
Livistona australis is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2009)[
1970
Title
A Taxonomic Account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae)
Publication
A Taxonomic Account of Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 60(2): 185-344. 2009
Author
Dowe J.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, detailed work, though it is a shame it does not include information on traditional and other uses.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

154
Title
Flora of Victoria.
Publication
 
Author
Ewart. A. J.
Publisher
University Press; Melbourne
Year
1930
ISBN
 
Description
A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
1970
Title
A Taxonomic Account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae)
Publication
A Taxonomic Account of Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 60(2): 185-344. 2009
Author
Dowe J.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, detailed work, though it is a shame it does not include information on traditional and other uses.

Range

Australia - Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland

Habitat

Often locally common and sometimes found in large colonies, it grows in moist areas of open forest, swamp forest, moist sclerophyll forests, along stream banks and in rainforest; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[
1970
Title
A Taxonomic Account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae)
Publication
A Taxonomic Account of Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 60(2): 185-344. 2009
Author
Dowe J.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, detailed work, though it is a shame it does not include information on traditional and other uses.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height20.00 m
Growth RateSlow
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Livistona australis is found mainly in warm temperate to subtropical areas in the wild, but also extends into the tropics of northeast Australia. It is only found in coastal and near coastal lowland areas in temperate regions, but is found at higher elevations in the subtropics and only at elevations between 400 - 1,000 metres in the tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 28°c, but can tolerate 8 - 34°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,100mm, but tolerates 800 - 1,200mm[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
Succeeds in full sun or partial shade[
188
Title
The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Brickell. C.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Year
1990
ISBN
0-86318-386-7
Description
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
]. Plants grow well in full sun, even when small[
297
Title
Palms of the World
Publication
 
Author
Blombery. A. & Rodd. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson
Year
1992
ISBN
0-207-14848-1
Description
An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms.
]. Plants naturally grow in forest habitats and, especially when young, require some shade from the sun for at least part of the day[
231
Title
Palms for Cooler Climates.
Publication
 
Author
McMillan-Browse. P.
Publisher
Trebah Enterprises.
Year
1993
ISBN
0 9521952 0 8
Description
An excellent little booklet on the subject, though it does not mention many plant uses.
]. Requires a sheltered position in a fertile moist but well-drained soil that is preferably neutral to acid[
188
Title
The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Brickell. C.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Year
1990
ISBN
0-86318-386-7
Description
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
,
231
Title
Palms for Cooler Climates.
Publication
 
Author
McMillan-Browse. P.
Publisher
Trebah Enterprises.
Year
1993
ISBN
0 9521952 0 8
Description
An excellent little booklet on the subject, though it does not mention many plant uses.
]. Although plants prefer a deep moist soil, they can also succeed in dry climates[
231
Title
Palms for Cooler Climates.
Publication
 
Author
McMillan-Browse. P.
Publisher
Trebah Enterprises.
Year
1993
ISBN
0 9521952 0 8
Description
An excellent little booklet on the subject, though it does not mention many plant uses.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Plants can tolerate at least some maritime exposure with salt spray and somewhat saline soil conditions[
297
Title
Palms of the World
Publication
 
Author
Blombery. A. & Rodd. T.
Publisher
Angus and Robertson
Year
1992
ISBN
0-207-14848-1
Description
An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms.
].
Plants are slow-growing[
188
Title
The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Brickell. C.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Year
1990
ISBN
0-86318-386-7
Description
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
].
Plants can flower and produce fruit all year round. They are functionally dioecious and so two distinct plants are needed if fruit and seed are required[
1970
Title
A Taxonomic Account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae)
Publication
A Taxonomic Account of Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 60(2): 185-344. 2009
Author
Dowe J.L.
Publisher
 
Year
2009
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, detailed work, though it is a shame it does not include information on traditional and other uses.
].
The plant is moderately resistant to damage from forest fires[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
Plants are very amenable to pot cultivation and can be grown successfully in containers for many years[
157
Title
Australian Native Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M.
Publisher
Collins. (Australia)
Year
1988
ISBN
0-7322-0021-0
Description
A lovely book, written in order to encourage Australian gardeners to grow their native plants. A little bit of information for the plant project.
].
Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[
231
Title
Palms for Cooler Climates.
Publication
 
Author
McMillan-Browse. P.
Publisher
Trebah Enterprises.
Year
1993
ISBN
0 9521952 0 8
Description
An excellent little booklet on the subject, though it does not mention many plant uses.
]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[
231
Title
Palms for Cooler Climates.
Publication
 
Author
McMillan-Browse. P.
Publisher
Trebah Enterprises.
Year
1993
ISBN
0 9521952 0 8
Description
An excellent little booklet on the subject, though it does not mention many plant uses.
]. Palms can also be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[
231
Title
Palms for Cooler Climates.
Publication
 
Author
McMillan-Browse. P.
Publisher
Trebah Enterprises.
Year
1993
ISBN
0 9521952 0 8
Description
An excellent little booklet on the subject, though it does not mention many plant uses.
].

Edible Uses

Young unfolded leaves - raw or cooked[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
61
Title
A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
Publication
 
Author
Usher. G.
Publisher
Constable
Year
1974
ISBN
0094579202
Description
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. The young and tender leaves are eaten like cabbages[
2
Title
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Hedrick. U. P.
Publisher
Dover Publications
Year
1972
ISBN
0-486-20459-6
Description
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
]. The young leaf buds are often used but, since the plants are unable to produce side-shoots, this effectively kills the plant[
144
Title
Wild Food in Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
Publisher
Fontana
Year
1976
ISBN
0-00-634436-4
Description
A very good pocket guide.
,
154
Title
Flora of Victoria.
Publication
 
Author
Ewart. A. J.
Publisher
University Press; Melbourne
Year
1930
ISBN
 
Description
A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are used for thatching and making hats[
61
Title
A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
Publication
 
Author
Usher. G.
Publisher
Constable
Year
1974
ISBN
0094579202
Description
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
144
Title
Wild Food in Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
Publisher
Fontana
Year
1976
ISBN
0-00-634436-4
Description
A very good pocket guide.
]. They are large and fibrous and can also be used for making baskets, bags, nets etc[
156
Title
Useful Wild Plants in Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
Publisher
William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney
Year
1981
ISBN
0-00-216441-8
Description
A very readable book.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow in early spring in a warm greenhouse, using deep containers in order to avoid root constriction and plating two seeds in each container[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The seed of this species has a longer viability than that of most palms[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. If necessary, thin the seedlings to the best plant and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least two years. If trying them outdoors, plant them out in the summer and give them some protection from the cold for their first few winters.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Livistona+australis>

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