Licuala spinosa

The mangrove fan palm, native to coastal and swampy lowlands from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Myanmar through Indochina and Hainan to Malaya, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. It suckers densely into clumps of slim stems, typically 10–13 ft. in cultivation and up to 23 ft. in habitat. Leaves are circular and dark green, divided into 14–19 narrow segments with squared-off tips, on petioles to 6 ft. whose margins are armed the full length with black spines. Branched inflorescences arise among the leaf bases and carry marble-sized fruit ripening bright red. Tolerates wet and brackish soils; grows well in full sun with abundant water, and is more cold-hardy than most of the genus.

Weight: 1 oz.