Central Australian facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Central Australian
Scientific classification
Genus:	Livistona
Species:	mariae

The Livistona mariae, also called the central Australian or red cabbage palm, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the palm family, Arecaceae.

This special palm tree is only found in Australia. Its most famous home is Palm Valley in Finke Gorge National Park. This park is in the Northern Territory. More than 3,000 red cabbage palms grow there. Many of these trees are hundreds of years old. They create a green, watery spot in a dry, rocky area. This region is mostly dry Central Ranges xeric scrubland today.

For a long time, people thought these palms were very old. They believed the palms were left over from a time when Central Australia was much wetter. But new studies show something different. Genetic tests found that Livistona mariae arrived only about 15,000 years ago. This is much more recent than previously thought. The closest relative of the red cabbage palm is the Mataranka palm, L. rigida. It grows far away, about 800 to 1000 kilometers to the north. A 2010 study found that L. mariae is genetically identical to L. rigida.

Aboriginal legends from 1894 also tell a story. They say "gods from the north" brought the seeds to Palm Valley. This old story matches what modern science has found.

Palm Names

This palm has a few different common names. People call it the cabbage palm, the central Australian cabbage palm, or the red cabbage palm.

How Scientists Classify It

Livistona mariae is a type of Livistona palm. These palms are found in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Ernest Giles first found L. mariae during his trip to Australia's dry center. Ferdinand von Mueller officially described the species later.

Scientists have studied how L. mariae is related to other palms. For a while, some thought L. mariae and L. rigida were the same species. They were grouped as different types, or subspecies, of L. mariae. But in 2009, a scientist named John Leslie Dowe decided they were separate species again. He noted they had different features.

New research suggests that humans helped bring these palms to the area. This means they might not be a natural part of the area's ancient plant life. Instead, they might have been introduced by people about 15,000 years ago. This changes how scientists look at their conservation status.

What the Palm Looks Like

The red cabbage palm is a tall tree. It has shallow roots. Its large leaves, called fronds, are smooth and a bit waxy underneath.

These palms can grow very tall, over twenty meters (about 65 feet). Their leaves can be over four meters (about 13 feet) long. The leaf stems are also very long. The bottom of the tree trunk gets wider as it gets older. The trunk then slowly gets thinner towards the top.

Where the Palm Grows

The main group of Livistona mariae palms grows in Palm Valley. This is where the Finke River flows through the MacDonnell Ranges.

These palms are found far away from their closest relatives. For a long time, people thought they were a "relict population." This means they were thought to be a leftover group from a time when Australia was wetter. They thought the palms survived as the land became drier over millions of years.

However, new genetic studies show a different story. They found that L. mariae separated from L. rigida about 15,000 years ago. Scientists looked at other ways the palms could have spread. They considered things like fruit bats carrying seeds. But the best explanation is that humans helped move them. This fits with local Aboriginal stories. These stories talk about people bringing the palms, using them for food, and taking care of them.

How It Lives in Nature

In Palm Valley, there is water underground. This underground water source, called an aquifer, keeps the palm groves moist. This is important because the area around them has very extreme weather. The trees also grow in spots that protect them from floods.

Growing These Palms

People grow two types of this palm. One is from the central desert, and the other is from the tropical coast. Livistona mariae palms grow slowly. But they eventually become very tall and beautiful trees.

The central Australian cabbage palm (L. mariae subsp. mariae) is a popular garden plant. It can grow up to 15 meters (about 49 feet) tall in gardens. Its trunk has a neat pattern from old leaf bases. The leaves are reddish when they are young. They can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) long.

Another type, often called L. rigida, is similar but can be even bigger. Its trunk can reach 20 meters (about 65 feet) tall. Its young leaves are also reddish and can grow up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) long.

These palms grow best in Australia's dry central regions if they get enough water. They also do well in wet, tropical coastal areas in the northeast. They are usually grown from seeds.

Protecting the Palms

Scientists classify the different types of Livistona mariae separately for conservation. The palms in Finke Gorge are now called L. mariae subsp. mariae. This helps with their protection.

The importance of these palms is recognized in a national plan. This plan aims to help 30 Australian plants. It works to reduce things that threaten the trees with extinction.

The Australian government lists L. mariae as a vulnerable species. This means it is at risk. Some threats include more fires because of invasive grasses like buffel grass. Changes in groundwater and more tourism also threaten the palms.

Many of these trees are safe inside Finke Gorge National Park. But some groups of palms grow on private land or in tourist areas. These groups need separate protection efforts.

Images for kids

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  A red cabbage palm in Palm Valley.

See also

In Spanish: Australia Central para niños