Livistona ID , please

[Takil]

I have a problem with the ID of a young Livistona. Perhaps you can help me. Two years ago, I have planted this Livistona as L. decora (ex decipiens) . All the part of the palm were gren except a red-brown mark at the base of the petioles.

Now this palm, planted in full sun, develops red coloring on petioles and leaves. So I have doubts on his ID. I think it is not a L. decora.

Thanking you in advance

Gérard 

[Phoenikakias]

It is not the color on the petioles that intrigues me (decora specimens may have frequently a reddish tinge on petioles, especially as juveniles, but rather the extension of red color to lamina and even more color of petiole spines and width of segments... I would not be surprised, if it would prove a hybrid. Is it anything known about origin of seed, from which sprouted the plant?

[gyuseppe]

livistona mariae?

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I think I may have the Same plant here.  The 1st two plants below are the same age but the second one was stunted in a pot at the nursery.  We hosted the central FL palm and cycad society meeting here and there were a lot of experienced Livistona growers in attendance.  No one was able to say what it was...but many felt it could be a hybrid, possibly between mariae or rigida and decora, australis, or something else.  We have 5 of these plants on the property and they all look quite uniform in phenotype and growth rate (fast).  Also, the nursery, Robbins Nursery in Sebring FL planted dozens of these along one of their roadways and they look like clones.  That uniformity makes me question the hybrid theory.  

The very purple plant (shaded by a bamboo this morning) is what I believe to be rigida.  It's so dark its nearly the same color as the red leafed European beech or Norway maples.  Its much much darker than the unidentified species in the first two photos.

The next palm with the fine texture and open canopy stands about 2m tall.  It was sold to me as mariae and was growing in a pot about 60 cm in diameter.  It grows slowly compared to decora, australis, and the unknown species.  It's quite distinct from them in other ways too...the petiole is much longer, the pinnae are thinner.  

The next photo shows australis.  It's a vigorous, dark green plant that grows fast and looks a lot like decora except it doesn't weep as much.  Also, the pinnae are wider.  This plant was in a pot about 30 cm in diameter just 2 years ago.  Today it's 2m tall and closer to 3m across.  Funny thing is I don't remember australis having such narrow pinnae in situ when I visited Australia back in 2011.  I have always thought australis looked a lot like chinensis and the plant in this photo looks like australis crossed with decora.  I know the grower planted seed that came from an australis tree, but I wonder if mama australis was enfatuated with a pretty neighbor.  Hmmm

speaking of pretty neighbors, the last photo is of a young L decora.  It also came from ROBBINS Nursery.  This is probably my favorite of the common Livistonas.  It grows super fast, and it's very decorative.  We probably have a couple dozen of them around here from small plants just under 50cm up to about 8 meter adults of reproductive age.  Once they start growing vertically, that trunk can grow 3 meters a year.  Once they reach reproductive age, the growth rate slows dramatically.  

Can you tell I have a real soft spot for Livistonas?

 

 

 

[Takil]

Thank you for your replies.

 

Kontantinos  : I  bought this palm in a nursery that was not specialized in palms.  So , I have no informations about the origins of this Livsitona. I think like you it is an hybride.

 

Guyseppe : no it is not a L. mariae. I have a specimen of this latter and it is different.

 

Keith : thank you for the pictures. Livistona seems very good in your garden !  Yes the Livistona of the photo seems similar to mine palm.

Your L. rigida is very, very beautifull. Fantastic !  I'll try to find a young plant.

[Daryl]

I'd say it is L.decora, Young plants grown in full sun here can display the red petiole and red leaf trait. Not as red as L.mariae or rigida for sure, but enough to be noticeable.

 

regards,

Daryl

 

[The Germinator]

The teeth on my decora are a lot smaller. It has about 4 ft of trunk. The leaflets are more droopy too.

[Takil]

On 20/03/2016 à, Daryl said:

I'd say it is L.decora, Young plants grown in full sun here can display the red petiole and red leaf trait. Not as red as L.mariae or rigida for sure, but enough to be noticeable.

 

regards,

Daryl

 Ah..Ok Daryl, you are well placed to know well this palm. Thank you.