Australian Native Plants

  Livistona australis (Cabbage Palm)


Livistona australis photo
Cabbage Palms on South Stradbroke Island, Queensland

Photograph copyright: oznativeplants - all rights reserved.

Livistona australis photo
Cabbage Palms amongst Melaleucas on South Stradbroke Island, Queensland

Some rights reserved.

Livistona australis photo
Cabbage Palms at resort on South Stradbroke Island, Queensland

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Livistona australis photo
Cabbage Palm frond

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Livistona australis photo
Cabbage Palm frond

Some rights reserved.




CABBAGE PALM FACTS

distribution map showing range of Livistona australis in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
Cabbage Palm

Description
The Cabbage Palm has a single grey trunk. The leaves are shiny green to 1.8m across. The flowers are creamy white and the fruit is black when ripe. The growing bud is edible (hence the name), but removing the growing tip kills the plant. It is fire tolerant.

Habitat
Wet Sclerophyll Forest

Distribution
lowland forest and swamps of eastern Australia.

Growth Characteristics
Height: 6m - 20m
Spread: 3m - 5m

Wildlife Interest
fruit attracts birds and butterflies.



Classification
Class:Liliopsida
Order:Arecales
Family:Arecaceae
Genus:Livistona
Species:australis
Common Name:Cabbage Palm


Relatives in same Genus
  Livistona alfredii
  Livistona decipiens
  Livistona humilis
  Livistona mariae
  Livistona rigida