Plants and Mushrooms

Fishtail palm

Common name		Fishtail palm
Botanical name		Caryota species (most common species Caryota mitis, Caryota urens)
Other common names		clustered fishtail palm; solitary fishtail palm
Family		Arecaceae
General description		A group of distinctive palms comprising about twelve different species grown as tub or garden ornamentals. The plants may be either solitary stemmed or clumped.
Flowers		The flowers occur in a many-branched inflorescence of numerous, inconspicuous, cream or green coloured flowers.
Leaves		The leaves or fronds are very long (up to 7m) with very distinctive fishtail shaped leaflets.
Fruit/Berries		The fruit are berries about 1cm in diameter, becoming red or black when mature. These are borne on numerous long stems.
Other		-
Symptoms		The whole plant contains needle-like calcium oxalate crystals which if chewed or eaten can produce a burning sensation in the mouth. Skin contact can result in burning, itching and dermatitis.
Toxicity category		2, 3
Warning		-