Sand palm facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sand palm
Scientific classification
Genus:	Livistona
Species:	humilis

The sand palm, also known by its scientific name Livistona humilis, is a special type of palm tree found only in Australia. It belongs to the palm family, called Arecaceae. This palm is quite small and thin, usually growing up to about 7 meters (about 23 feet) tall. Its trunk is only about 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) wide.

The sand palm has beautiful fan-shaped leaves. Each palm usually has 8 to 15 of these leaves, and they can be 30 to 50 centimeters (about 1 to 1.6 feet) long. The stalks that hold the leaves are called petioles, and they can be 40 to 70 centimeters (about 1.3 to 2.3 feet) long. You can find this palm mainly in the Top End of the Northern Territory in Australia. Scientists believe its closest relative is another palm called Livistona inermis. The sand palm is very tough and can survive frequent bushfires, which are common where it grows.

The male and female sand palm plants look a bit different, especially their flower stalks. The female plant has straight flower stalks that can grow up to 230 centimeters (about 7.5 feet) long. The male plant's flower stalks are shorter, up to 180 centimeters (about 6 feet) long, and they are usually curved. The flowers themselves are small and yellow, measuring about 2 to 4 millimeters across. After flowering, the female plant produces shiny, dark purple or black fruits. These fruits are oval or pear-shaped and are about 11 to 19 millimeters long and 8 to 10 millimeters wide.

Discovering the Sand Palm

The sand palm was first described by a botanist named Robert Brown in 1810. He wrote about it in his book, Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. This palm was so important that Brown used it to help define the entire group of Livistona palms.

The very first sand palm plant used for scientific study was collected by Robert Brown in January 1803. He found it on Morgans Island, which is in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The name humilis comes from a Latin word meaning "low," which refers to the palm's relatively small size.

Where the Sand Palm Grows

The sand palm is found only in the northern part of the Northern Territory in Australia. You can see it from the Fitzmaurice River all the way to Cape Arnhem, and it grows inland towards Katherine.

It usually lives in open forests and woodlands, often growing under eucalypt trees. It prefers deep sandy soils, but it can also grow in other types of soil and rocky areas. You can find it at elevations up to about 240 meters (about 787 feet) above sea level.

Life Cycle of the Sand Palm

The sand palm has specific times of the year when it flowers and produces fruit.

• Flowering: You can see its small yellow flowers from September to May.
• Fruiting: The shiny purple-black fruits appear from January to June.

Sand Palm in Aboriginal Culture

Aboriginal people have used the sand palm for many generations. It is a very important plant in their culture.

• Food: The fruits of the sand palm are edible. The central growing tip of the palm, called the "heart," can also be eaten, either raw or cooked.
• Medicine: The soft core from the stem of the palm can be crushed and made into a drink. This drink is used to help treat coughs, colds, chest infections, diarrhea, and even tuberculosis. The crushed stem core is also used to treat backaches.
• Dye: Both the fruit and the growing shoot of the palm can be used to make a black or purple dye.

The sand palm has different names in various Aboriginal languages. In the Yolŋu language, spoken in East Arnhem Land, it is called dhalpi. In the Kunwinjku language of West Arnhem Land, it is known as mankurlurrudj, or sometimes marrabbi in the eastern Kuninjku dialect.

Conservation Status

Currently, the sand palm is not listed as a threatened species in the Northern Territory. This means it is not considered to be in danger of disappearing.

Images for kids

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  An illustration of the sand palm by Ferdinand Bauer from 1838.

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  Bauer's second illustration of the sand palm.