Clustered Fishtail Palm


Scientific Name: Caryota mitis Lour.
Caryota mitis
Size: Up to 30 feet tall (9 m) Up to 5 feet in diameter
Min. Temperature: 26°F (-3°C)
Water Requirements: Regular to abundant water
Sun Requirements: Light shade
Origin: Indonesia
Leaf: Bipinnate, 8 to 10 light green leaves, with the characteristic fishtail shape leaflets. up to 9 feet long (2.5 m).
Trunk: Clustering covered with fibers and remnants of leaf stalks. Underneath, the trung is grey, covered with a layer of wax. 4 to 8 inches in diameter (10 to 20 cm).
Flower: Cream. Flower stalk coming from among the leaves, 12 inches.
Fruit: Dull red to black. 3/4 inches. round.
Seed: Dull gray. Round with groves.

The species name 'mitis' comes from Latine and means 'unarmed'. The pulp of the fruit is caustic, handle with care.
Each trunk dies after blooming, but is soon replaced by new growth from the clump.

Desert Tropicals Home Page | List of All the Plants | Check for more members of the Arecaceae family

© 1998-2020 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved.