Licuala spinosa Thunb.

A clumping palm 2-7 m tall. The trunk is 4-7 cm thick. There are spines on the leaf stalk. The leaves are large radiating. There are teeth on the edges and with square ended segments. The leaves are folded like a fan. The flower stalks are long and arching. They are 1-2.5 m long. They come from the centre of the palm. The fruit are brilliant red and in clumps. The fruit are oval. They are 9-10 mm long and 8 mm wide.

A tropical plant. It grows in wet places with fresh or salt water. It grows in sandy soils in coastal regions. It is often on the landward side of mangroves. It likes warm moist conditions. It can be grown in subtropical regions. It can grow in sun or light shade. It can tolerate coastal exposure. In Cairns Botanical Gardens. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. In Townsville palmetum. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

The heart or terminal bud are eaten as vegetables. The young shoots are eaten raw or cooked and used for wrappers for rice desserts.

Plants are grown from seed. Seed are slow to germinate. Seeds take 6-8 months to germinate. Plants respond to fertiliser and watering. Plants can be grown from suckers.