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Livistona Chinensis, a Semi- Naturalized Palm of Swamp Forest

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Livistona Chinensis, a Semi- Naturalized Palm of Swamp Forest PALM S Siebert: Semi-Naturalized Livistona Vol. 53(4) 2009 Livistona chinensis , a STEFAN J. S IEBERT Semi- A.P. Goossens Herbarium School of Environmental Naturalized Sciences and Development North-West University Private Bag X6001 Palm of Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa Swamp Forest [email protected] in Subtropical South Africa Despite numerous exotic plant species (ca. 915 taxa) becoming naturalized in South Africa, no records suggest that any of the approximately 400 palm species cultivated locally have followed suit. This paper reports on Livistona chinensis as the first palm species to become semi-naturalized in South Africa after 100 years of extensive cultivation along the eastern seaboard. The first palm to be regarded as naturalized in Habitat conditions along the sub-tropical South Africa, was Borassus aethiopum (Selati eastern seaboard of South Africa do, however, Palm) from Tropical Africa (Dyer 1952). prove to be favorable for colonization by However, these days its occurrence in Limpopo tropical palm species. An example of is accepted by most to be indigenous, and the encroachment by a tropical palm in this region most southern outlier population of the species is that which resulted from the planting of in Africa (Esterhuyse et al. 2001, Glen & Archer Raphia australis (Kosi Palm) at Mtunzini in 2006). Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 300 Only six palm species are indigenous to South km south of its natural southern distribution Africa (Glen & Archer 2006), probably due to limit at Kosi Bay in the same province. The prevailing temperate conditions that are palm was regarded as a useful stream-bank unfavorable for tropical taxa. It is therefore stabilizer and was subsequently planted in not surprising that no non-indigenous swamps, where large groves have successfully member of the Arecaceae has previously been established in dense stands. It spreads rapidly, regarded as naturalized in South Africa its seed dispersal aided by palmnut vultures (Henderson 2006). and vervet monkeys, and is generally regarded PALMS 53(4): 193 –196 193 PALM S Siebert: Semi-Naturalized Livistona Vol. 53(4) 2009 as an encroacher species that excludes typical periods. Its natural habitat is open forest and swamp forest species due to its large size (20– it can therefore tolerate sunny conditions. 15 m) (Peckham & Van Jaarsveld 1989). Sessile flower clusters are borne during late summer on 5–7 inflorescences held within the This paper reports on another palm that finds crown. Flowers are followed by mature oval or the habitat conditions of swamp forest round fruit that turn from green-blue to china- favorable, namely Livistona chinensis , an exotic blue-gray when ripe. palm species that has escaped from cultivation to become semi-naturalized in South Africa. Discussion Livistona chinensis was brought to South Africa Species treatment as an ornamental during the early 1900s Livistona chinensis is indigenous to Japan, (Esterhuyse et al. 2001). Since then it has China and several islands in the South China become a common feature of coastal gardens Sea; its distribution is reflected in its common of urban centers along the subtropical east names, Chinese Fan Palm or Chinese Fountain coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Palm. In Japan, Livistona chinensis reaches its The sites where Livistona chinensis has now most northern distribution limit on Aoshima, become naturalized fall within the core area of the ‘islet of the Gods’, and here a rare virgin the Maputaland Centre of Endemism (Van forest of this palm is regarded as sacred Wyk & Smith 2001). Many aggressive alien (Yoshida et al. 2000). The palm is well known invasive plants such as Chromolaena odorata , in Chinese medicine, as the fruit and seed have Lantana camara and Melia azederach are already a potent anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor problematic in this part of northern coastal activity (Sartippour et al . 2001). KwaZulu-Natal (Henderson 2006). This palm Chinese Fan Palms are tall (4–6 m), single- is also recorded as naturalized in coastal areas stemmed and with a dense crown of divided, of the USA (Oppenheimer 2003). fan-shaped and pendulous fronds (Fig. 1). It is When the palm’s non-invasive behavior for a hardy palm able to survive extended dry 100 years is considered, the question arises, 1. Livistona chinensis in situ: swamp forest along the uMhlatuze River near KwaDlangezwa. Photo: S.J. Siebert. 194 PALM S Siebert: Semi-Naturalized Livistona Vol. 53(4) 2009 Table 1. Number of individuals recorded per size class for each naturalized population. Size classes KwaDlangezwa Ngwelezana Thulazihleka total 0–1000 mm 78 18 12 108 1001 –2000 mm 15 7224 2001 –3000 mm 4127 3001 –4000 mm 1012 >4000 mm 1102 how did it manage to disperse its seed to more maturity. Seeds germinate readily within two favorable shady, moist conditions in sur- to three months. Further self dispersal of seed rounding natural forest vegetation in recent is localiszd in proximity to the mature years? Despite various visits to palms in fruit, individuals, forming dense monocultures of no natural dispersal vectors were noted. Corlett seedlings on the forest floor (Table 1). An (2005) recorded seven indigenous bird species individual plant can produce on average 3000 that took fruit from non-indigenous Livistona seeds per annum (n=10). If the natural chinensis in Hong Kong. However, he germination viability is modestly estimated at concluded that seed dispersal by birds and/or 1%, 30 seedlings will germinate from the seeds fruit bats is a necessary, but not sufficient, of a single palm annually. condition for the naturalization of fleshy- Naturalized populations of Chinese Fan Palm fruited plants. occur at an altitudinal range of ca. 15–120 m Further visits to collecting localities revealed above sea level. In situ it is regularly associated evidence of garden refuse dumping at all sites. with an indigenous palm, Phoenix reclinata Therefore, human behavior seems to be the (Wild Date Palm), and tends to prefer forested main dispersal agent. When masses of seeds are areas along seepages characterized by large swept from pavements and dumped in individuals of the tree species Bridelia favorable, moist conditions, there exists a micrantha , Ficus sur , Trema orientalis , Trichilia chance for at least some seedlings to reach dregeana and Syzygium cordatum . Here in the 2. A dense stand of Livistona chinensis seedlings within a 10 m radius of the adult plant at Ngwelezana. Photo: S.J. Siebert. 195 PALM S Siebert: Semi-Naturalized Livistona Vol. 53(4) 2009 subcanopy it occurs with other problematic LITERATURE CITED alien or invader species such as Canna indica , CORLETT , R.T. 2005. Interactions between birds, Nephrolepis exaltata , Odontonema strictum , fruit bats and exotic plants in urban Hong Passiflora edulis , Pereskia aculeata and Psidium Kong, South China. Urban Ecosystems 8: guajava . A size class analysis of the palm 275–283. populations suggest that the subcanopy surrounding a mature individual is dominated DYER , R.A. 1952. A note on the distribution of by palm seedlings of less than 1 m (Fig. 2). the palms of South Africa with special Could this be the slumbering cohort of a reference to Borassus in the Transvaal. South potential invasive alien? African J. Sci. 48: 215–220. There is also an urgent need to assess the ESTERHUYSE , N., J. V ON BREITENBACH AND H. invasive status and potential of other SOHNGE . 2001. Remarkable Trees of South cultivated palms in South Africa. For instance, Africa. Briza, Pretoria. Butterfly- or Golden Cane Palm, Dypsis GLEN , H.F. AND C. A RCHER . 2006. Arecaceae. In lutescens , holds a major threat to the sub- G. G ERMISHUIZEN , N.L. M EYER , Y. S TEENKAMP tropical coastal region of South Africa. This AND M. K EITH (eds), A checklist of South species is native to Madagascar and widely African plants. Southern African Botanical cultivated due to its artistic clumping nature, Diversity Network Report No. 41: 873–874. yellowish crownshafts, arching, pinnate fronds SABONET, Pretoria. with drooping leaflets, and light-green bamboo-like stem with yellowish node scars. HENDERSON , L. 2006. Comparisons of invasive This palm is hardy and once established, can plants in southern Africa originating from tolerate dry conditions. It flowers in December, southern temperate, northern temperate and is pollinated by bees and then produces masses tropical regions. Bothalia 36: 201–222. of yellow fruit with fertile seed. Seed OPPENHEIMER , H.L. 2003. New plant records germinates readily and en-masse after eight from Maui and Hawaii Counties. Bishop weeks. In a clump, each stem can produce two Museum Occasional Papers 73: 3–30. to four inflorescences, which can carry approximately 1400 seeds (n=10). In gardens PECKHAM , G.D. AND F.A. V AN JAARSVELD . 1989. these palms usually have on average ten stems New botanical perspectives of the origin of (n=10) resulting in a total fruit set per plant of the Raphia palms at Mtunzini. Bothalia 19: approximately 14,000 per year. If germination 213. viability is modestly estimated at 1%, 140 SARTIPPOUR , M.R., C.H. L IU , Z.M. S HAO , V.L. G O, seedlings will germinate from the seeds of each D. H ERBER AND M. N GUYEN . 2001. Livistona palm every year. Although no birds have been extract inhibits angiogenesis and cancer noted taking seed from observation sites, the growth. Oncology Reports 8: 1355–1357. semi-sweet smelling fruit that fall to the ground are consumed whole by domestic dogs VAN WYK , A.E. AND G.F. S MITH . 2001. Regions of and vervet monkeys. Floristic Endemism in Southern Africa. Umdaus Press, Hatfield. VOUCHER SPECIMENS YOSHIDA , N., R. N OBE , K. O GAWA AND Y. M UROOKA . SOUTH AFRICA : KwaZulu-Natal: Empangeni, 2000. Origin of Livistona chinensis var. KwaDlangezwa, swamp forest along the subglobosa (Arecaceae) on the “Islet of the uMhlatuze River, Siebert 2456 (ZULU, NH, Gods”: Aoshima, Japan.
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