Licuala Palm

Licuala grandis H. Wendl.

lick-oo-WALL-ah GRAND-is

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: The generic name comes from leko-wala, a local name (JON). Grandis means large.

Natural range: Vanuatu, Solomon Islands. Disturbed lowland rainforest, usually moist soils (JON), wet lowland rainforest (MEE)

Recognition (data from BA2, JON, MEE, NUR, PAL, PBCC, RI2): Distinctive, small, slow-growing, single-trunked palm with the corrugated, stiff, flat, palmate leaves marginally toothed but not divided into lobes. The petioles are spiny. The small fruits in grapelike clusters are bright red or orange. This species differs from most other Licuala species by having its leaves not divided into wedge-shaped segments (undivided leaves occur also in Licuala peltata Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham. var. sumawongii Saw, Sandakania 10: 10. 1997, which are much larger (7’ vs. the 3’ leaves of L. grandis).

            The following species, all encountered occasionally in South Florida, have their palmate leaves divided into wedge-shaped leaflets with the outer edges toothed. They are: L. lauterbachii Dammer & K. Schum. (single-trunked, to 20’ tall, with often around 15-30 leaf segments), L. paludosa Griff. (single-trunked, similar to L. lauterbachii but with <12  leaf segments), L. ramsayi (F. Muell.) Domin. (Australian Fan Palm, a large single-trunked species to 45’(60’) tall, having leaves to 5’-6+’ across vs. about 2.5’-4.5’ in the other deeply divided species), and L. spinosa Thunb. (a tough, salt-tolerant, comparatively sun-tolerant, clumping species with the leaf segments uneven, the longest ones at the middle of the leaf. The inflorescences are long arching wands with orange fruits).

Landscape uses (L. grandis): An eye-catching and distinctive focal point standing a little taller than a person, with pleated, plate-shaped, stiff leaves, and with bright red fruits. Use it is a small, protected, shaded space where ample water and organically enriched, well drained soil are available. An alternative for a sunnier spot is the clumping L. spinosa. Consider combining species of Licuala in the same garden. RI2 suggests fertilization with fish emulsion. ELL lists 3-6 months for germination.