Discover Nature at JCU Plants Plants by scientific name A-F Caryota mitis

Caryota mitis

Caryota midis

(Clustered Fishtail Palm)

FAMILY

Arecaceae

Species

Caryota mitis

Common name

Clustered Fishtail Palm

Fruit colour; life form

Yellow, Red; palm

Campus

Townsville

Description

Stems clustered, leaves bipinnate, leaflets or pinnules fish-tailed shaped hence the common name. Fruit varies in colour from yellowish-green to dark red and to 1.5 cm diameter when ripe. This one is suitable for growing in cyclonic areas but the solitary fishtail palm is not. Some people get dermatitis from handling the old leaves and sawdust.