Licuala Thunberg (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Licuala Thunberg

Family: Palmae

Major species

• Licuala ferruginea Becc.

• Licuala kunstleri Becc.

• Licuala triphylla Griffith.

Vernacular names

• General: licuala palm (En)
• Indonesia: palas (Malay), leko wala (Makassar)
• Malaysia: gerenis (Sarawak), loyar (Besisi, Peninsular), palas (Peninsular)
• Philippines: balatbat (Tagalog). Burma (Myanmar): salu
• Thailand: ka pho
• Vietnam: lụi.

• L. ferruginea
• Indonesia: lipai talang (Kubu).

• L. triphylla
• Malaysia: palas rewang, palas tikus, gurcheng
• Thailand: ka pho nok aen, kha pho nuu (Pattani), paa-la ti-ku.

Distribution

The approximately 130 species of the genus occur from north-eastern India, southern China, throughout Malesia, up to northern Australia, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The largest diversity is found in Malaysia, Borneo and New Guinea. L. ferruginea is found in Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, L. kunstleri and L. triphylla in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.

Uses

The leaves of many Licuala species are used to make mats and for tying. They also serve for thatching, e.g. L. ferruginea in Indonesia, though they are not durable. Young leaves serve to wrap food and as cigarette-wrappers. The split petioles are used for basketry. The palm heart and palm cabbage are edible. The stems of the few species that produce larger stems are used for construction. Several species are widely grown as ornamentals in the tropics and subtropics.

Observations

Palms, usually small, stemless to shrubby, seldom tree-like; clustered or solitary. Leaves palmate; petiole unarmed or with teeth or spines; sheaths disintegrating into fibres; blade many-folded, undivided or split along the ribs, segments wedge-shaped, reduplicate, blunt. Inflorescence spicate to branched, 2(-3) orders, between leaves; flowers solitary or in groups of 2-3. Fruit a 1-seeded drupe.

• L. ferruginea . A stemless or almost stemless palm. Leaves palmate, emerging leaves covered with long, brown hairs and scales; petiole spiny, up to 1.3 m long; blade about 1 m in diameter, divided in 3-7, broadly wedge-shaped segments. Inflorescence spicate, stout, up to 75 cm long; spathe brown-pubescent; rachis red-tomentose; flowers crowded, sessile; calyx cup-shaped, lobes ovate, pubescent; petals triangular, yellow. Fruit brilliant red.

• L. kunstleri . A small palm, solitary, stemless or stem up to 1 m tall. Leaves palmate; petiole slender, 1-2 m long, with prominent stout thorns on margin; blade about 1 m across, divided into 11-19 spreading lobes, with central lobe larger than the rest, marginal lobes with prominent apical teeth of up to 5 cm long. Inflorescence spicate, 20-70 cm long; spathe with silvery scales; rachis brown-tomentose; flowers crowded, pedicel 1-2 mm long; calyx campanulate, lobes blunt; petals lanceolate, acute. Fruit globose, about 1 cm in diameter, brilliant red.

• L. triphylla . A solitary palm with subterranean stem. Leaves palmate, very variable in morphology; petiole slender, up to 75 cm long, with few basal thorns; blade divided into 3-11 segments, with translucent spots. Inflorescence branched; spadix slender, up to 20 cm long; spathe 2.5 cm long; flowers very small, sessile; sepals ovate, acute and tomentose; petals triangular, yellow. Fruit globose, 8-10 mm in diameter, red.

Licuala is closely related to Livistona R. Br. and Johannesteijsmannia H.E. Moore. It is found in the undergrowth of primary forest, occasionally in secondary forest at low altitudes. Collection for trade as ornamentals could pose a threat to several species. Although they are slow-growing and sometimes have particular requirements for growth, they are popular ornamentals.

Selected sources

9, 20, 71, 90, 91, 147, 163, 188.

Authors

M. Brink, P.C.M. Jansen & C.H. Bosch