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Livistona benthamii F.M.Bailey

Family Name:	Arecaceae (Palmae)
Common Name:	Bentham's Fan Palm, Fan Palm, Cabbage Palm

Livistona benthamii, also known as Bentham's Fan Palm, is a solitary palm which can reach up to 18 m tall. Petiole stubs remain on the stem even after the leaves fall off. It has long petiole which are armed with curved black spines along the margin. Coarse fibers are prominent and present at the base of the petiole.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Solitary Habit

Palm

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Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Palm
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	18 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	New Guinea to Australia.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a palm that can reach up to 18 m tall and has a solitary growth habit. Petiole stubs remain on the stem even after the leaves fall off. These stubs persistent on the trunk for most of its length unless decayed by age or fire. Stem is ringed with leaf scars.
Foliage	Leaves are fan-shaped (costapalmate), about 0.9 – 1.6 m long, and deeply divided for 60 – 75% of the length. Leaves are regularly segmented and can have 50 – 80 segments each. The petiole can reach up to 2 m long and are armed with curved black spines along the margin. Coarse fibers are prominent and present at the base of the petiole.
Flowers	Inflorescence occurs between the leaves (interfoliar) and can reach 1.2 – 2 m long. It comprises of many cream to pale yellow flowers.

Fruit	Fruit is round to obovoid (about 0.9 – 1.1 cm diameter), smooth and fleshy. It turns purple-black when mature. Each fruit contains 1 seed within.
Associated Flora	Flowers are pollinated by insects.

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Shape(s)	Palm Fronds (Fan / Costapalmate)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Palm)	Solitary Habit, Aboveground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Black, Purple
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Smooth

References

References	Dowe, J.L. (2009). A taxonomic account of Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae). Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 60: 185-344.

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Master ID	32915
Species ID	7329
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 15 August 2023.