About Livistona humilis R.Br.
Livistona humilis, commonly known as the sand palm, is an Australian palm species belonging to the family Arecaceae. It is a small, slender palm that reaches approximately 7 meters in height, with a trunk diameter at breast height of 5 to 8 centimeters. It produces 8 to 15 fan-shaped leaves that are 30 to 50 centimeters long, attached to petioles that measure 40 to 70 centimeters in length. This species is endemic to the Top End of the Northern Territory, Australia. Genetic studies indicate its closest relative is Livistona inermis. The sand palm is fire tolerant and typically grows in environments that experience frequent fires. Livistona humilis is dioecious and sexually dimorphic: female plants have erect flower stalks that grow up to 230 centimeters long, while male plants have curved flower stalks that reach up to 180 centimeters long. Its flowers are small and yellow, measuring 2 to 4 millimeters across. The fruit is shiny purple-black, and shaped ellipsoid, pyriform, or obovoid, with a length of 11 to 19 millimeters and diameter of 8 to 10 millimeters. The sand palm is endemic to the northern part of Australia's Northern Territory, ranging from the Fitzmaurice River to Cape Arnhem and extending inland as far as Katherine. It grows in open forest and woodland at elevations up to around 240 meters above sea level. It is most commonly found on deep sandy soils and sandy lateritic soils, but can also occur in a range of other soil types and rocky areas. It frequently grows in the understorey beneath eucalyptus trees. Flowering occurs from September to May, and fruiting occurs from January to June.
