Chinese fan palm

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Fan Palm
• Fountain Palm
• Chinese fountain palm

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Livistona oliviformis
• Livistona subglobosa
• Saribus oliviformis
• Chamaerops biroo
• Latania chinensis
• Livistona chinensis var. subglobosa
• Latania oliviformis
• Livistona japonica
• Saribus chinensis
• Saribus subglobosus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Arecales, it is classified under the family Arecaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Livistona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution across several continents. In Northern Africa, its presence can be documented within the borders of Tunisia. Moving toward the southern reaches of the continent, it is found in the KwaZulu-Natal region of Southern Africa. Its range also extends into the Western Indian Ocean, specifically inhabiting the islands of Mauritius and Réunion. Finally, the species is located in East Asia, specifically on the Chinese island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Livistonina chinensis is defined by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1600 m AMSL. This species is characteristically found within the canopy, where it occupies specific niche spaces within the upper layers of its forest environment. To survive within these complex ecosystems, the plant utilizes active defense mechanisms, which are present to mitigate herbivory or environmental stressors.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

canopy

Genetics

The genetics of Livistona chinensis are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that defines its cytological profile. The species possesses a total chromosome number of 36, representing its fundamental genomic structure. Furthermore, this plant functions at a diploid ploidy level, indicated by a ploidy value of 2, which signifies that it maintains two complete sets of chromosomes within its somatic cells.

Chromosome number :

36

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Livistona chinensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to maintain its presence in its ecosystem over many growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on a well-developed stem or trunk, a structural trait consistent with both its classification as a phanerophyte and its specific life form profile. Furthermore, the species exhibits evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year without shedding all its leaves seasonally, ensuring continuous photosynthetic activity and a stable vegetative structure over its long life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Livistona chinensis is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily existing as a self-supporting tree. As a terrestrial species, it does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation, with a substantial shoot length that can reach a maximum of 2000 cm. In terms of stature, it typically reaches a mean plant height of 12.25 m, though individual specimens vary between a minimum height of 5 m and a maximum height of 20 m. Additionally, the tree displays a significant trunk development, with a maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 30 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

DBH max:

30 cm

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

12.25 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Shoot length max:

2000 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Livistona chinensis is characterized by several distinct morphological and metabolic adaptations. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic process for plants in temperate and subtropical environments that optimizes carbon fixation under specific light and moisture conditions. Structurally, the foliage is significant in scale, with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 180 cm, contributing to a large surface area for light interception. Protection is integrated into its leaf morphology through the presence of leaf spines, which serve as a physical defense mechanism. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic diazotrophic processes to meet its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

180 cm

Leaf spines :

yes

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Livistona chinensis is characterized by the production of yellow flowers that develop into fleshy fruits. These fruits typically exhibit a blue coloration and vary in size, with a mean length of 2.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2.6 cm) and a mean width of 2.8 cm. Within each fruit, the number of seeds produced generally ranges from 1 to 10. The seeds themselves are notable for their consistent volume, recorded at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 930 mm³. Regarding their mass, the seeds vary from a minimum of 0.5 g to a maximum of 1.107 g, with an overall mean seed mass of approximately 0.69587 g.

Flower colour :

yellow

Fruit colour :

blue

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.5 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

2.8 cm

Seed mass max:

1.107 g

Seed mass mean:

0.69587 g

Seed mass min:

0.5 g

Seed volume max:

930 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Livistona chinensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, seed.

Root

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Seed

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Livistona chinensis has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor.

Antitumor

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Conditions

Livistona chinensis has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bladder cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia, melanoma B16, ovarian neoplasm.

Bladder cancer

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chronic myelogenous leukemia

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Melanoma b16

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Ovarian neoplasm

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials