The seven to twelve pinnate leaves in the crown hold leaflets arranged one above another in three rows. Yellow-green flowers are followed by purple fruit. In its native Madagascar, it grows in moist rainforests, semi-deciduous dry forests or in coastal areas. This elegant palm is adaptable to both moist and dry environments and even to forest regions near the sea. Licuala spinosa is a clustering species with leaves divided into as many as 20 pleated segments.
Inflorescences produce small white flowers followed by showy red-orange fruits.
It is native to coastal areas of Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Commonly called mangrove fan palm, this species is often seen on the inland edge of mangrove communities. Plants will grow in a variety of soils and will tolerate sun, but in South Florida, they grow best in a moist, partially shaded location. They are excellent container plants. Rhapis subtilis , native to shady forests in Thailand, is a smaller relative of the lady palm.