Introduction:
Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis)
The Chinese fan palm, Livistona chinensis is a single stemmed fan palm native to Japan and China that is cultivated worldwide in tropical and temperate climates as an ornamental. Their introduced range includes Bermuda, the Mascarene Islands, Florida, Hawaii and New Caledonia where they have naturalised. In Bermuda thickets of fan palms can be seen beside roads where seeds have dropped and germinated, these thickets can crowd out native species and overshadow them. In Hawaii they have been seen growing in ditches, stream-beds and understory of disturbed secondary forests. They are also reported to be growing in riparian areas in New Caledonia.
Occurs in:
Natural forests, planted forests, riparian zones, ruderal/disturbed, urban areas.
General impacts:
Fan palms are naturalised in Bermuda and thickets of palms can be found along roadsides. The berries produced by the palms fall to the ground around the base of the tree and germinate. Seedlings grow to eventually form thickets. These thickets can crowd out and overshadow native species. Chinese fan palms are similar to and are often mistaken for the endemic Bermuda palmetto.
Distribution Map:
Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis) Distribution in North America shown in green.
Geographical range:
Native range:Temperate Asia: China, Japan - Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku; Taiwan.
Close up of Chinese fan palm (Livistona chinensis).
Known introduced range: Bermuda, New Caledonia, Mauritius, Reunion islands, Florida and Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, French Polynesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Palau, Wallis and Futuna.
Introduction pathways to new locations:
For ornamental purposes: The Chinese fan palm has been introduced widely as an ornamental tree for gardens.
Management information:
The Department of Conservation Services, Government of Bermuda suggests the following options for the control and management of the Chinese fan palm. Fan palms have thorns so gloves need to be used, young seedlings can be pulled out easily but not larger saplings. Re-growth can occur if it breaks and bits are left in the ground. Mature palms can be removed using a machete or bow saw. As the trunk is fibrous the chainsaw can get clogged frequently while working it. The centre of the stump needs to be destroyed. The herbicide ‘Roundup’ can be used to brush the stump to prevent re-growth.
Sourced From:
