Livistona chinensis

Livistona chinensis, the Chinese fan palm or fountain palm, is a species of subtropical palm tree of east Asia. It is native to southern Japan, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, southeastern China and Hainan. It is also reportedly naturalized in South Africa.

Livistona chinensis can attain heights of about 9 to 15 m (30 to 50 ft) and a spread of 4 m (12 ft). The leaves are fan shaped

The palm is cultivated as an ornamental tree in gardens and conservatories.

This plant can become a weed, or in some exosystems an invasive species, in places such as Bermuda, Hawaii, Florida wetlands and on some Caribbean Islands.

The leaves are used for making fans. They are also used for manufacturing rain hats and coats, brooms etc. The fibres, extracted from the sheath and the petiole of the leaves, are made into cordage.