Caryota urens – Toddy Palm – Wine Palm – Jaggery Palm – Sago Palm – Fishtail Palm –

Description

Caryota – Fishtail Palm – There are about 12 species of large single and smaller multi stemmed, monoecious sometimes monocarpic palms, in this genus. They occur from India and Sri Lanka to Southeastern Asia, Northern Australia and the Solomon Islands from sea level to 7,000′ feet high in humid or monsoon climates. Huge bipinnate fronds each with a prominent sheathing base, are arranged in spirals on the upper part of each stem. ‘Fishtail’ refers to the shaped of the leaflets which are usually wedge or triangular shaped. The 3 petaled, cup shaped flowers are borne in large, pendent panicles just below the lowest leaf. Where not hardy grow as a specimen houseplant. In tropical regions fishtail palms are used as ornamental specimen trees, where they occur naturally they provide sago, palm wine and building materials. Indoors, grow in soil based potting mix in bright filtered light and high humidity. Water freely during the growing season, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water sparingly in winter. Outdoors, grow in fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil with some midday shade. Prone to spider mites, scale insects, fungal leaf spots, lethal yellowing, and false smut. C. urens – Toddy Palm – Wine Palm – Jaggery Palm – Sago Palm – This medium to large, short lived (usually 30 years), fast growing, monocarpic palm from Eastern India, Sri Lanka and the Malaysian peninsula grows 30-80′ feet tall with a 30′ feet wide crown. It is has a single, sturdy trunk about 12″ diameter clothed with fibrous leaf bases. Arching, broadly linear, 2 pinnate, dark green leaves, 10-20′ feet long, have 6-50 obliquely wedge shaped leaflets, to 12″ long. Both the trunk and the large fronds bases are a chalky white in color. Panicles, 6-12′ feet long of cream flowers, ½-1 1/4″ across, are produces at the end of the tree’s life, first at the top of the tree, then from each leaf axil downward. It produces red fruit. The sugary sap is boiled down to make crud3e sugar, or is distilled into toddy. Zones 10-12