The Fishtail Palms belong to the genus Caryotis. It gets the name, Fishtail Palm, from the fishtail shape of the leaflets. There are a dozen or so Caryotis species endemic to Asia and the South Pacific.
It is the only palm with leaves which have a double subdivision. It is also unusual in that the first mop-like flower cluster appears at the top of the mature palm, followed by a gradual emerging of clusters down the stem. When the last cluster flowers, the palm dies.
In India, many parts of the palm are utilised. It provides food in the form of an edible starch which is extracted from the stem. The palm heart is also eaten. The fuzz from juvenile leaves is used as tinder, the leaf sheath fibres are made into rope, the leaves are used for thatching or weaving into various items and the seeds are made into beads.
It is long-lived and graceful, easy to grow and maintain, and ideal in a conservatory. It can be grown as an indoor plant in which case it will not grow so tall. It can reach a height of 8 metres with a spread of 4 metres. It is vigorous, very hardy with attractive light green trunks and leaves. Although it will tolerate light frosts, it is at its best in a shady position, with well-draining soil and regular watering.
The inflorescence is many-branched with numerous cream or green coloured flowers. The inconspicuous flowers give way to seeds or berries which contain minute, needle-like crystals of oxalic acid. These are toxic when eaten and can cause severe itching at best and chemical burns at worst, if coming into contact with the skin. The berries are red or black, and about 1cm in diameter.
It is a widely grown and popular palm, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. It is not recommended in parks or school yards because of its toxicity. These palms do not have strong root systems and are best not planted close to buildings – or in car parks!
Two common species are Caryotis mitis and Caryotis urens. Caryotis mitis is also known as the clustered fishtail palm or clumping fishtail palm. The irregular bi-pinnate leaves grow up to 3 metres long. The palm propagates by seed or from suckers and forms dense clumps in rainforests and vine thickets. It produces prodigious amounts of seed which are spread by birds and suckers easily from the base. It has adapted to warm Mediterranean type climates and thus it has become ‘flora non gratia’ in many non-native habitats. It is regarded as an invasive weed in Florida and some parts of eastern Australia. In good conditions, it becomes naturalised and may choke out native species.
Caryotis urens is known as the solitary (single trunk) fishtail palm, jaggary palm or wine palm. It has a single, stout trunk and red fruit. Palm sugar, marketed as palm jaggery, is made from sap collected by ‘tapping’ the tree. The sap is also fermented to make an alcoholic toddy.
While these palms are interesting and versatile, they are probably best not planted if there is any likelihood of them ‘escaping’ and becoming pests. There are enough natural weeds in the world without adding introduced ones!
