{{Short description|Species of palm endemic to Queensland}} {{Speciesbox |image = Queensland_Fan_Palm.jpg |image_caption = ''Licuala ramsayi'' near Mission Beach, Queensland |status = |status_system = |status_ref = |genus = Licuala |species = ramsayi |authority = F.Muell. }}
'''''Licuala ramsayi''''', commonly known as the '''Queensland fan palm''' or '''Australian fan palm''', is a species of tree in the palm family Arecaceae which is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia. Two varieties are recognised: ''Licuala ramsayi'' var. ''ramsayi'',<ref name="RFKa"/> and ''Licuala ramsayi'' var. ''tuckeri''.<ref name="RFKb"/> It is the only species of the genus ''Licuala'' present in Australia.
== Description == ''L. ramsayi'' is a distinctive palm with a single trunk to {{cvt|16|m}} tall and {{cvt|20|cm}} diameter.<ref name="FOA"/> It has large, pleated, circular leaves up to {{cvt|2|m}} in diameter. Petioles have formidable spines to {{cvt|5|mm}} long. The fruits are a red drupe around {{cvt|10|mm}} diameter containing a single seed.<ref name="COOPER2"/>
== Distribution and habitat == The species grows in swamps, along riverbanks, and in rainforests in Australia. In favourable conditions it may dominate small areas, forming a "fan palm forest".<ref name="BEASLEY"/> ''L. ramsayi'' var. ''tuckeri'' is found in Cape York Peninsula southwards to about Cooktown,<ref name="RFKb"/> while ''L. ramsayi'' var. ''ramsayi'' occurs from Cooktown to the Paluma Range north of Townsville.<ref name="RFKa"/>
==Ecology== Trees provided an edible cabbage to Aboriginals, as well as thatch, food wrapping, and cigarette papers (from young leaves)<ref name ="BEASLEY"/> Fruits are eaten by cassowaries.<ref name="COOPER2"/>
==Gallery== <gallery mode=packed heights=160px> Image:Ramsayi1.jpg|Licuala Walking Track near Wongaling Beach, Queensland Image:Ramsayi2.jpg| Image:Licuala ramsayi inflorescence SF21098.jpg|The spidery inflorescence Image:Licuala ramsayi (tanetahi) 004.jpg|Dominating a section of rainforest </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist |refs= <ref name="RFKa">{{cite web |author1=F.A.Zich |author2=B.P.M.Hyland |author3=T.Whiffen |author4=R.A.Kerrigan |author2-link=Bernard Hyland |year=2020 |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Licuala_ramsayi_var._ramsayi.htm |title=''Licuala ramsayi'' var. ''ramsayi'' |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government |access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="RFKb">{{cite web |author1=F.A.Zich |author2=B.P.M.Hyland |author3=T.Whiffen |author4=R.A.Kerrigan |author2-link=Bernard Hyland |year=2020 |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/Licuala_ramsayi_var._tuckeri.htm |title=''Licuala ramsayi'' var. ''tuckeri'' |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government |access-date=20 June 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="FOA">{{cite web |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Licuala%20ramsayi |title=''Licuala ramsayi'' |last1=Dowe |first1=J.L. |last2=Jones |first2=D.L. |year=2022 |website=Flora of Australia |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="BEASLEY">{{cite book |last1=Beasley |first1=John |date=2009 |title=Plants of Cape York - the compact guide |publisher=John Beasley |isbn=978-0-9806863-0-2 |page=144}}</ref>
<ref name="COOPER2">{{Cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Wendy |last2=Cooper |first2=William T. |author-link2=William T. Cooper |date=June 2004 |title=Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest |publication-place=Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia |publisher=Nokomis Editions |isbn=9780958174213 |url=https://www.nokomis.com.au/product/nokomis-published-books/fruits-australian-tropical-rainforest/ |access-date=20 June 2021 |page=71}}</ref> }}
==External links== * {{Wikispecies-inline}} * {{Commons-inline}} *[http://www.pacsoa.org.au/wiki/Licuala_ramsayi Palm and Cycad Society of Australia]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5975209}}
ramsayi Category:Trees of Australia Category:Flora of Queensland Category:Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller
{{Arecaceae-stub}}