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Glite Dictionary
Livistona australis

Livistona australis

9.9
An Australian palm tree with fan shaped leaves and edible young leaf buds
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : livistona australis
  • Indigenous Australians traditionally harvested the edible buds of the Livistona australis.

Examples

  • Many bushwalkers can identify the slender trunk and fan-shaped leaves of Livistona australis.

  • The Livistona australis grows widely along the east coast of Australia.

  • The Livistona australis is a beautiful palm tree.

  • Have you ever seen a Livistona australis in the wild?

  • Indigenous Australians traditionally harvested the edible leaf buds of the Livistona australis.

  • The Livistona australis is known for its distinctive fan-shaped leaves and tall, slender trunk.

  • At the botanical garden, visitors can admire the Livistona australis and learn about its uses.

Synonyms

cabbage tree
vsLivistona australis
  • Australian
9.3

An Australian palm tree whose young leaf buds are eaten

is the scientific or formal name for the same Australian palm

Surface Forms

Livistona australis singular
Livistona australis plural

Morphology

Livistona + australis

This is a botanical binomial combining the genus 'Livistona' (fan palms) with the Latin epithet 'australis' (meaning 'southern' and cognate with 'Australia'), so the phrase literally denotes the 'southern Livistona' — i.e. the Australian palm. Because the name is compositional (genus + descriptive epithet) and 'australis' transparently signals 'southern/Australian', a learner who knows both constituent meanings can derive the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Livistona australis likely comes from a person's name for the genus Livistona combined with the Latin word australis meaning 'southern'. So the name tells you it is a southern palm, and people also call it the 'cabbage-tree palm' because its young buds can be eaten like cabbage.