About

Livistona humilis, the sand palm, is an Australian plant species of the family Arecaceae. It is a small, slender palm, growing to about 7 m tall and 5–8 cm dbh. It has 8 to 15 fan-shaped leaves, 30–50 cm long with petioles 40–70 cm long. It is endemic to the Top End of the Northern Territory in Australia. Genetic investigation suggests that its closest relative is Livistona inermis. This palm is fire tolerant and usually grows in environments where it is exposed to frequent fires.

Livistona humilis is dioecious and sexually dimorphic. The flower stalks on the female plant are erect and up to 230 cm long, while the male plant's flower stalks are up to 180 cm long and curved. The flowers are small and yellow, 2 mm to 4 mm across. Fruit is shiny purple black, ellipsoid, pyriform, or obovoid, 11–19 mm long and 8–10 mm in diameter.

Where it grows

The sand palm is endemic to the north of the Northern Territory of Australia, from the Fitzmaurice River to Cape Arnhem and inland as far as Katherine. It occurs in open forest and woodland up to about 240 m above sea level, most commonly on deep sandy soils and sandy lateritic soils, but it is found in various soils and rocky areas. It frequently grows beneath eucalypt understorey.

Other Livistona plants

Millstream Palm · Australian Fan Palm · Livistona benthamii · Livistona boninensis · Fan palm · Fountain palm · Ribbon Fan Palm · Drude’s Palm · Livistona eastonii · Livistona endauensis · Blackdown Fan Palm · Livistona halongensis