Livistona chinensis
(Chinese fan palm)

Preferred Common Name

• Chinese fan palm

Other Scientific Names

• Chamaerops biroo Siebold ex Mart.
• Latania chinensis Jacq.
• Livistona japonica Nakai ex Masam.
• Livistona oliviformis (Hassk.) Mart.
• Livistona subglobosa (Hassk.) Mart.
• Saribus chinensis (Jacq.) Blume
• Saribus oliviformis Hassk.
• Saribus subglobosus Hassk.

International Common Names

• English: Chinese fountain palm; fountain palm
• Spanish: livistona de China; palma abanico; palma china
• French: palmier éventail de Chine
• Chinese: pu kui
• Portuguese: falsa-latânia; palmeira-leque-da-China

Local Common Names

• French Polynesia: palmier fontaine
• Italy: palma da capelli
• Japan: biro

EPPO code

• LIVCH (Livistona chinensis)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Monocotyledonae
•                     Order: Arecales
•                         Family: Arecaceae
•                             Genus: Livistona
•                                 Species: Livistona chinensis

The family Arecaceae includes 188 genera and 2585 species of perennial climbers, shrubs and trees (commonly known as palm trees) distributed across the tropics and warm temperate regions of the world (Stevens, 2012). The genus Livistona is included in the subfamily Coryphoideae and is one of the most ecologically diverse and widespread genera of palms. Livistona is distributed across Africa and southern Arabia, southeastern and eastern Asia, Malesia and Australia. Because of this extensive distribution, Livistona has received uneven taxonomic attention at the species level. Livistona is also a genus of major horticultural and economic importance, and thus many species have been moved by humans over long distances (Dowe, 2001; 2009; Starr et al., 2003).

Stems to 15 m tall, 20-30 cm in diameter, rough with leaf scars. Leaves are palmate; petioles to 1.8 m, with green or black recurved spines along margins, spines denser proximally, fewer distally on petioles; hastula to 3 cm; blades almost circular in outline, 1.2-1.8 m wide, green on both surfaces, regularly divided to c. half their length into 50-90 segments, these split and pendulous at apices. Inflorescences are 1-1.2 m, branched to three orders, with six or seven partial inflorescences; rachillae 10-18 cm; flowers hermaphroditic, borne in clusters of 4-7, white or yellow, 2-2.5 mm. Fruits are green or blue-green, globose to ellipsoid or pear-shaped, 1.5-2.6 x 0.9-1.8 cm (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016).

In Mauritius, L. chinensis was introduced in 1785 and is now widely naturalized and invasive in native and secondary forests across the island (Meyer et al., 2008). In Hawaii, it was probably introduced in the 1800s and is cultivated as an ornamental tree, persisting after cultivation, and sparingly naturalized in areas where previously cultivated (Wagner et al., 1999).

Soil drainage

• free

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• light
• medium

Natural Dispersal

L. chinensis spreads by seeds. Fruits fall to the ground and sprout below the parent tree. Fruits can also be spread by birds and other animals (Bermuda DENR, 2016). In Hawaii, it is possible that plants are also spread in water, as seedlings are often observed germinating along ditches (Starr et al., 2003). Dispersal by sea currents has been suggested for the northerly spread of L. chinensis (as var. subglobosa) from the Ryukyu Archipelago to Shikoku, Japan (Yoshida et al., 2000). 

Intentional Introduction

L. chinensis is primarily spread over long distances by humans. It is often planted as ornamental and used in landscaping (Starr et al., 2003; Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016; USDA-ARS, 2016).

Impact on Habitats

L. chinensis is listed as invasive in Hawaii, Florida, Bermuda, Mauritius, Reunion and New Caledonia, where it negatively impacts vegetation on coastal areas, mesic woodlands and secondary moist forests (Starr et al., 2003; Meyer et al., 2008; FLEPPC, 2015; Bermuda DENR, 2016; ISSG, 2016; PIER, 2016).

Impact on Biodiversity

L. chinensis produces a large number of fruits and has high germination rates. Fallen berries germinate at the base of the parent tree, forming dense thickets that smother and outcompete native vegetation (Bermuda DENR, 2016). In Mauritius, it has become invasive and is threatening the critically endangered endemic palm Acanthophoenix rubra (Maunder et al., 2001).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Long lived
• Gregarious

• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Modification of successional patterns
• Monoculture formation
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of endangered species
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - shading
• Competition - smothering
• Produces spines, thorns or burrs

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

L. chinensis is widely planted as an ornamental throughout tropical and subtropical areas of the world. It is often planted in gardens, parking lots, parks and avenues (Gilman and Watson, 1993; USDA-ARS, 2016). In Asia, leaves are used for making hats, fans, brooms and raincoats (Dowe, 2009; Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016).