Livistona australis Mart.

Trunk to 25 m tall, 25–40 cm diam., brown; base with prominent petiole stubs, smooth above. Leaves 35–60 in an open to dense crown; petiole 150–250 cm long, 10–20 mm wide, smooth or with short recurved marginal thorns; leaf blade ±circular, 100–130 cm long, chartaceous, dark green, glossy, abaxially glabrous, divided to c. 1/2 its length; segments 80–100, drooping distally, deeply bifurcate, with acute lobes. Inflorescence 100–250 cm long, branched to 5 orders; bracts densely floccose; rachillae glabrous. Flowers solitary or in sympodial clusters of 2–4, funnel-shaped, cream to pale yellow; sepals triangular, 1.2–2 mm long, acute, fleshy; petals triangular to ovate, 2–3.5 mm long, subacute to obtuse, fleshy; stamens c. 2.5 mm long. Fruit globose, 12–22 mm diam., reddish brown to dull black. Seed globose, 10–16 mm diam.

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforests and along streams and swamps. It suits humid locations. It grows in temperate and subtropical places. It is best grown in well-drained organically rich soils, but will grow in a range of soils. It can tolerate wet soils if the water is moving and not stagnant. Frosts only cause minor browning on the leaves. They do best in a well lit position. In tropical Queensland it grows from 400-840 m altitude. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Arboretum Tasmania. In Hobart Botanical Gardens.

The base of young shoots eaten. The growing tip or cabbage is eaten raw or cooked. (As this kills the palm, it is not recommended)

Plants can be grown from seed. Seed germinate easily. Germination takes 1-3 months. Seedlings transplant easily.