Licuala spinosa

Common name

spiny licuala, mangrove fan palm

Description

Stems: Clumping, upright stems to 4 m tall and 8-10 cm in diameter, with remnant fibers from leaf leaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
sheaths. Leaves: Costapalmate, with a stiff blade, divided into wedge-shaped, multi-ribbed segments, and forming a circle about 1 m across. Leaf surfaces, shiny green; leaftips, truncate and toothed. The petiole is armed throughout its length with teeth along the margins. Flowers and fruits: Inflorescences (1-2.5 m long) are branched to two orders in long drooping spikes. Flowers are small, white and bisexual. Fruits are small (1-1.5 cm), spherical, and red when ripe.

Diagnostic features

Field: Costapalmate leaves, with a stiff, rounded leaf leaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
blade in wedge-shaped, multi-ribbed segments, forming a broken circle; both leaf leaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
surfaces, deep green; leaftips, bifid.

Lab: Tufts of pale tomentum tomentum:
a covering of closely matted or fine hairs on plant leaves
on the abaxial abaxial:
away from or the side of an organ facing away from the axis (<strong>ab </strong>as in <strong>ab</strong>andon); for example, the lower surface of a leaf blade or petiole
leaf folds near costa.

May be confused with

Other Licuala species, perhaps, but the circular leaf leaf:
in palms -- the leaf blade (which is usually divided into leaflets or leaf segments), the petiole (or leaf stalk) and the sheath (which forms the attachment of the leaf to the stem)
blades with wedge-shaped, multi-ribbed segments are quite distinctive.

Distribution

Native to Malaysia, Indonesia

Scientific name

Licuala spinosa Thunb.

Family

Arecaceae/Palmae

Synonyms

Licuala horrida Blume