Trunk to 30 m tall, grey, base slightly enlarged. Crownshaft dark green, sometimes purple-green, to 1 m long. Leaves 2-3 m long, straight or willowy, in a graceful semi-round crown. Leaflets 30-50 cm long with fine tips, green on both surfaces. Flowers lilac-purple. Fruit about 1.5 cm long, bright waxy red.
Queensland, New South Wales
Occurs naturally in swamps and beside streams in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, often in extensive communities mostly between Mackay in north-eastern Queensland and Batemans Bay in southern NSW.
Fast growing and adaptable in subtropical and temperate regions, although generally dislikes the dry heat of inland districts. Often damaged by salt-laden winds in coastal districts.
Slender woody trunk hardly bulging at the base; leaflets green on both surfaces; long tubular green or purple-green crownshaft; lilac-purple flowers; small red fruit.
Commonly cultivated even as far south as Hobart (Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens).
Source: (2005). Arecaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
