Licuala ramsayi
{{Short description|Species of palm endemic to Queensland}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Queensland_Fan_Palm.jpg
|image_caption = Licuala ramsayi near Mission Beach, Queensland
|status =
|status_system =
|status_ref =
|genus = Licuala
|species = ramsayi
|authority = F.Muell.
}}
Licuala ramsayi, commonly known as the Queensland fan palm or Australian fan palm, is a species of tree in the palm family Arecaceae which is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia. Two varieties are recognised: Licuala ramsayi var. ramsayi, and Licuala ramsayi var. tuckeri. It is the only species of the genus Licuala present in Australia.
Description
L. ramsayi is a distinctive palm with a single trunk to {{cvt|16|m}} tall and {{cvt|20|cm}} diameter. It has large, pleated, circular leaves up to {{cvt|2|m}} in diameter. Petioles have formidable spines to {{cvt|5|mm}} long. The fruits are a red drupe around {{cvt|10|mm}} diameter containing a single seed.
Distribution and habitat
The species grows in swamps, along riverbanks, and in rainforests in Australia. In favourable conditions it may dominate small areas, forming a "fan palm forest". L. ramsayi var. tuckeri is found in Cape York Peninsula southwards to about Cooktown, while L. ramsayi var. ramsayi occurs from Cooktown to the Paluma Range north of Townsville.
Ecology
Trees provided an edible cabbage to Aboriginals, as well as thatch, food wrapping, and cigarette papers (from young leaves) Fruits are eaten by cassowaries.
Gallery
Image:Ramsayi1.jpg|Licuala Walking Track near Wongaling Beach, Queensland
Image:Ramsayi2.jpg|
Image:Licuala ramsayi inflorescence SF21098.jpg|The spidery inflorescence
Image:Licuala ramsayi (tanetahi) 004.jpg|Dominating a section of rainforest
References
{{Reflist |refs=
{{cite web |author1=F.A.Zich |author2=B.P.M.Hyland |author3=T.Whiffen |author4=R.A.Kerrigan |author2-link=Bernard Hyland |year=2020 |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Licuala_ramsayi_var._ramsayi.htm |title=Licuala ramsayi var. ramsayi |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government |access-date=20 June 2021}}
{{cite web |author1=F.A.Zich |author2=B.P.M.Hyland |author3=T.Whiffen |author4=R.A.Kerrigan |author2-link=Bernard Hyland |year=2020 |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Licuala_ramsayi_var._tuckeri.htm |title=Licuala ramsayi var. tuckeri |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government |access-date=20 June 2021}}
{{cite web |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Licuala%20ramsayi |title=Licuala ramsayi |last1=Dowe |first1=J.L. |last2=Jones |first2=D.L. |year=2022 |website=Flora of Australia |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=14 October 2023}}
}}
External links
- {{Wikispecies-inline}}
- {{Commons-inline}}
- [http://www.pacsoa.org.au/wiki/Licuala_ramsayi Palm and Cycad Society of Australia]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5975209}}
Category:Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller
{{Arecaceae-stub}}