Livistona australis
Common names
cabbage tree palm
Biostatus
Exotic
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Monocotyledons
Flower colours
Cream
Habitat
Well naturalised on Kawau Island, otherwise mainly confined to the vicinity of plant specimens in urban areas. This is because the fruits are of sufficient size that most birds cannot consume them. However, kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) can and do distribute fruit. This is possibly how it has become so well established on Kawau Island.
Conservation status
Not applicable
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Ecology
Year naturalised
1980
Origin
Australia and scattered in tropics.
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Tolerances
Cold sensitive
Control techniques
Disposal Method
Hand pull or dig out seedlings (watchout for the spines), destroy fruiting adults. Plant only males, or remove fruiting panicles if the trees are desired.
Preferred Control
Its obvious—better not to plant it and use another palm species that does not set viable seed instead.
Life cycle and dispersal
Long-lived tree. Reproduces exclusively by seed, which is a hard nut enclosed by a fleshy fruit. Fruit dispersed by birds and gravity.
Other information
Etymology
australis: Southern