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Caryota rumphiana

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Caryota rumphiana Mart.

Family Name: Arecaceae (Palmae)
Common Name: Fishtail Palm, Solitary Fish Tail Palm

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Growth Form Palm (Solitary Habit)
Maximum Height 20 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width 5 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution Moluccas, New Guinea, Australia

Description and Ethnobotany

Trunk Stem stout, light grey, ringed with prominent leaf scars, usually bulging in the middle; crownshaft absent.
Foliage Fronds bipinnate, green, up to 6 m long; leaftlets usually triangular or deltoid in shape with jagged edges.
Others - Plant Morphology Growth form: A solitary, spectacular palm with a stout, grey trunk that supports a dense, massive crown of large, stiffly spreading fronds with arching tips. Flower: Inflorescences massive, cream to yellow, 1.8 m long, emerging from amongst the fronds; flowers occur in groups of 3 (2 males and 1 female). Fruit: Fruits globular, reddish-pink whe ripe, 2 to 3.5 cm in diameter, single-seeded; seeds smooth, black, round with grooves.
Cultivation Having versatile growth requirements, it is adeptly suitable to grow under full sun to shady location, thus also able to be grown indoors. Requires consistently moist, well-drained soils. Avoid over-watering. Tolerates mildy acidic to alkaline soils and prefers high humidity. Propagate by seeds. Seeds have low storage life thus they should be sown immediately. Seeds will take about 1 to 3 months to germinate and can be planted outdoors after a year. Caution: Fruit is a irritant and is inedible as the pulp conatins calcium oxalate crystals which can result to irritation to the skin and muscous membranes.Wear gloves when handling if need be.
Etymology The genus epithet 'Caryota' comes from the Greek 'caryon', a nut. The species epithet 'rumphiana' is honoured after G.E. Rumpf (Rumphius), 17th and 18th century German botanist who collected in Indonesia.
Ethnobotanical Uses Others: The trunk contains a starch which can be used to make sago.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses Suitable for Roadsides

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Moderate

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Foliar Shape(s) Palm Fronds (Bipinnate)
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio 2.5 (Palm - Solitary)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Palm) Solitary Habit, Aboveground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Pink, Red

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 1316
Species ID 2609
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 10 December 2021.
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