Livistona jenkinsiana
Palm tree up to 20 m tall. Stem 25–30 cm diam. Crown with 30–50 leaves. Leaf sheath 50–60 cm long, breaking up in fibrous mesh; petiole 200–260 cm long, armed with basally swollen up to 20 mm long, recurved spines; blade almost circular, flattened at first, becoming wavy 260–280 cm long, divided in 90–100 single-fold segments, lustrous green above, glaucous green below. Inflorescence branched to 3 orders, peduncle 25–30 cm long, prophyll 30–45 cm long, peduncular bract partly contained within prophyll; rachis 120–130 cm long, first order branches 4–6, with numerous 10–30 cm long, rigid rachillae. Flowers in clusters of 3–5, sepals 2–4 mm long, petals 3–4 mm long. Fruit 2.5–3 cm long, globose to reniform, leaden blue. Seed coat intrusion apical.
A species of some concern since it is rather scattered in its distribution (see discussion in Barfod et al. 2010).
L. jenkinsiana has recently been considered conspecific with L. speciosa (Henderson 2010). However, where the two species grow sympatrically they differ in flowering and fruiting season.
Global — India (Assam, type) to Peninsular Malaysia.
Thailand — NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok and Uttaradit; NORTH-EASTERN: Phetchabun; EASTERN: Nakhon Ratchasima; CENTRAL: Nakhon Nayok; PENINSULAR: Ranong, Surat Thani, Pattani.
Hill evergreen forest.
The leaves are used for thatch and handicrafts. The fleshy mesocarp of the boiled fruits is eaten.