Livistona australis
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| Livistona australis | ||||||||||||
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| Livistona australis |
Cabbage tree palm is scientifically known as Livistona Australis in Australia. It is classified as a Livistona and is a part of the Arecaceae family. The Cabbage tree palm is very hardy palm and a beautiful palm growing up to 30m high and is crowned with shiny leaves 3-4.5m long. It has leaves plaited like a fan; the cabbage of these is small but sweet. In summer it bears flower spikes with sprigs of cream-white flowers.
[edit] Distribution & Habitat
Mostly this kind of plant is found in moist open forest, often in swampy sites and on margins of rainforests or near the sea. It is widely spread along the New South Wales coast and extends north into Queensland and south into Victoria.
[edit] Culture
The cabbage tree palm's natural distribution extends into south-eastern Australia and grows further south than any other native Australian palm. They grow best in moist, organically rich soils and thrive in both sheltered and well-lit situations. The species is also salt, frost and wind tolerant, with populations occurring in exposed coastal situations along the east coast of Australia from Queensland to Victoria.
The tree's method of reproduction is by fruit, that the trees grow. At first the fruit is red and later turn black when it is ready to be peeled and planted. Their lifecycle is simple, when the tree grows and eventually grows its fruit, ripen fruit drops on the ground and ready to be replanted. Then the cycle continues, but sometimes the tree will be cut down. The tree will then will be used to make wooden buildings and the leaves will be eaten.
