836 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



grown in large quantities for the trade. Some of them, e.g., 

 L. anstralis and Z. chi7tejisis, are excellent for sub-tropical 

 gardening. The leaves, which are terminal, are fan-shaped, 

 divided into many segments, and supported by stout petioles 

 mostly enclosed at their base in a mass of netted fibres. 



The stem 

 in some species 

 is stout, and 

 reaches enor- 

 mous heights. 

 The flower- 

 spikes, which are 

 branched, are 

 thrown out from 

 between the 

 leaves, and the 

 flowers are per- 

 fect. Livistonas 

 thrive splen- 

 didly in a strong 

 compost of two 

 parts loam and 

 one of peat and 

 sand. AVater 

 must be abundantly 

 supplied through the 

 growing period. They 

 are easily propagated 

 by seeds. L. altisswia 

 is a very tall Palm 

 when fully developed, 

 forming a rather stout 

 stem, or trunk, but it 

 is very handsome in 

 its early state ; the 

 leaves, which, as 

 well as the segments, 

 are very large, are 

 of a shiny green, 

 and are supported by 

 petioles varying 

 from 2ft. to 6ft. long, 

 which are enclosed 

 base in a brown network, and are also armed 

 side with stout spines. L. australis {Corypha 

 is a well-known species, grown in large quantities ; 

 somewhat stout stem and petioles, which latter 

 and are enclosed in a fibrous network ; 



Fig. 557. — LiviSTONA australis. 



at their 

 on each 

 australis) 

 it has a 

 are deep brown, 



