Hello everyone and welcome back to Plant of the Week! This week we will be taking a look at Livistona rigida, a solitary palm species native to Australia, specifically Queensland and various areas in the Northern region. Livistona rigida can grow upwards of 28 meters tall and has a grey trunk that averages 35cm in diameter that is covered in leaf scars, with the exception of the bottom section that will retain old leaf bases. The round canopy is made up of over 30 glossy green, costapalmate leaves that average 3 meters in length and have black spines that line a portion of the petiole. This is a dioecious species with the inflorescences extending to nearly the length of the leaves with an average maximum length of 2.5 meters and consists of small lime-green flowers. Once pollinated the fruit produced will be round in shape with roughly a 12mm diameter that begins as a dull green color before eventually maturing into its shiny black appearance. Although Livistona rigida is not currently classified as an Endangered species, it’s natural habitat which focuses primarily along waterways with the exception of a few populations in wooded areas, raises possible concern in the event of things like natural disasters. The Montgomery Botanical Center Plant of the Week is made possible with the support of the City of Coral Gables. #Plantoftheweek #montgomerybotanicalcenter #plantsofmontgomerybotanicalcenter #PlantsofMBC #plants #garden # palm #palms #Livistona #Livistonarigida #flowers #leaves #solitary #dioecious #petiole #leafscars #costaplamate #Matarankafanpalm #Lawnhillfanpalm #coralgablesarts (fb)

Loading up to head to the Coral Gables Farmers Market. If you are in the area, come visit us. Montgomery is leading the garden workshop on “Plants we grow at Montgomery Botanical Center: a Coral Gables Botanic Garden established in 1932.” Today, February 8th at 10 am. The Farmers Market Garden Workshops are made possible with the support of the City of Coral Gables. @cityofcoralgables #coralgablesarts #cityofcoralgables #education #palms #cycads #plants #coralgablesfarmersmarket (fb)