美丽蒲葵 mei li pu kui

Latania jenkinsiana (Griffith) Devansaye; Livistona fengkaiensis X. W. Wei & M. Y. Xiao; L. moluccana H. Wendland; L. speciosa Kurz; Saribus jenkinsianus (Griffith) Kuntze ["jenkensii"]; S. speciosus (Kurz) Kuntze.

Stems to 25 m tall, to 30 cm in diam., rough with leaf scars. Leaves palmate; petioles 1.3-2 m, with brown recurved spines along margins, decreasing in density toward distal end; hastula to 3 cm; blades almost circular in outline, 1.5-2 m wide, grayish green abaxially, green adaxially, regularly divided to ca. halfway or more into 70-100 segments, these briefly split and erect at apices. Inflorescences to 2 m, branched to 3 orders, with 3-6 partial inflorescences; rachillae 10-30 cm; flowers bisexual, solitary or borne in clusters of 2-6, yellowish, 2.5-4 mm. Fruits bluish, globose to ellipsoid or pear-shaped, to 3.5 × 2.5 cm.

Forests and open areas, commonly planted in villages or other disturbed areas; 100-2500 m. Hainan, Yunnan [Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Malaysia (Peninsular), Myanmar, Thailand].

The leaves are commonly used for thatching and making hats, and small plantations are maintained for leaf harvesting. The seeds are eaten as a substitute for betel nut, and in Hainan the fruits are used medicinally.