FOR 253 Livistona decipiens, Ribbon Fan Palm 1 Mary McKenzie, Michael G. Andreu, Melissa H. Friedman, and Heather V. Quintana 2 1. This document is FOR 253, one of a series of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 2010. Visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. 2. Mary McKenzie, research assistant, School of Forest Resources and Conservation; Michael G. Andreu, assistant professor of forest systems, School of Forest Resources and Conservation; Melissa H. Friedman, biological scientist, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida, Plant City Center; and Heather V. Quintana, research assistant, School of Forest Resources and Conservation The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean Family Arecaceae, palm family. Genus Livistona is the Latin term for "Livingston," the Scottish city where in 1670 Patrick Murray, a gardener and nobleman, helped found the Edinburgh Botanic Garden with his collection of plants. Species The name decipiens, Latin for "deceiving" or "deceptive," is thought to have been applied to this palm after discovering that it had been misidentified and cultivated in France as another plant species. Common Name ribbon fan palm The common name of this palm comes from the physiological characteristics of its leaves, which split into many segments or lobes from the middle of the leaf and look like ribbons dangling from a hand-held fan. Description This palm is endemic to Australia and grows along forest edges and coastal swamps in eastern Queensland. In the United States, it can survive where temperatures do not drop below 20°F, such as in parts of Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade, and it can reach heights of 30 to 50 feet. Leaves are costapalmate, which means that they have a prominent mid-vein and a common point on the leaf where it lobes or splits. The split occurs in the middle of the leaf and continues to its tip. The area below the split is the part that resembles a hand-held fan. Individual leaves are large with widths ranging from 7 to 9 feet. Each leaf can reach a length of 4 to 6 feet and is attached to a 6-foot petiole that is armed with short, sharp teeth along its margin. Leaves are dark green on their topside and grayish green on their underside. The trunk is light brown with dense leaf base scars encircling it and can reach a diameter of up to 10 inches. Male and female flowers appear on branching flower inflorescences that emerge among the leaves. The inflorescences are 4 to 9 feet long and bear yellow blooms. The fruit is 1/2 inch to 5/8 inches in diameter and turns black when ripe. Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office.