Caryota mitis: Country Or Region Of Origin
SE. China to Indo-China and Malesia
Plant Profile: Caryota mitis
Taxonomy: Caryota mitisNames
Fishtail Palm
Phonetic Spelling:kair-ee-OH-tah MY-tiss
Genus:Caryota
Species:mitis
Family:Arecaceae
Characterized by either solitary or clustered, unbranched stems, this plant features large, long-stalked leaves that arch gracefully. The leaves are bi-pinnately divided into leaflets, which are widest above the midpoint and have irregularly toothed tips. The fruit produced is a fleshy berry.
Commonly found as a houseplant or in interior landscapes.
Belongs to the Arecaceae (Palmae) family.
Identification Tips:
This species can grow upright to a height of 40 feet, showcasing arching branches, making it an impressive tree-form specimen.
It thrives in medium light and prefers low to medium humidity levels; water the plant when the soil feels dry, and be mindful of potential pest issues.
Tags
#poisonous
#houseplant
#interiorscape
#palm
#fern-like
#fantz
#container plants
Similar Plants
Caryota mitis Feature Summary
Attributes
SE. China to Indo-China and Malesia
Seed kernels are edible
Fruit
Fleshy berry
Berry
Leaves
Leaves large, long-stalked, arching, bi-pinnately divided into leaflets which are widest above the middle and irregularly toothed at apex. bipinnate; pinnules asymmetrical, deltoid, apex highly incised; sheaths felted and scaly, disintegrating into black fibers; 6 1/2-13'.
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
> 6 inches
Stem
Solitary or clustered, unbranched stems. Leaf bases and sheaths fibrous, becoming bare and ringed.
Poisonous to Humans
CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Burning and swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, and throat; difficulty of speaking; redness and swelling of skin and eyes after handling berries
Calcium oxalate crystals
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Poisonous
Arching
Cultural Conditions
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Occasionally Dry
Landscape
Houseplants
Poisonous to Humans
Contact Dermatitis
Caryota mitis Image Gallery
Caryota mitis Attributes
Caryota mitis: Edibility
Seed kernels are edible
Caryota mitis Fruit
Caryota mitis: Fruit Description
Fleshy berry
Caryota mitis: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Caryota mitis Leaves
Caryota mitis: Leaf Description
Leaves large, long-stalked, arching, bi-pinnately divided into leaflets which are widest above the middle and irregularly toothed at apex. bipinnate; pinnules asymmetrical, deltoid, apex highly incised; sheaths felted and scaly, disintegrating into black fibers; 6 1/2-13'.
Caryota mitis: Leaf Color
Green
Caryota mitis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Caryota mitis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Caryota mitis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Caryota mitis: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Caryota mitis Stem
Caryota mitis: Stem Description
Solitary or clustered, unbranched stems. Leaf bases and sheaths fibrous, becoming bare and ringed.
Caryota mitis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Caryota mitis Poisonous to Humans
Caryota mitis: Poison Symptoms
CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Burning and swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, and throat; difficulty of speaking; redness and swelling of skin and eyes after handling berries
Caryota mitis: Poison Toxic Principle
Calcium oxalate crystals
Caryota mitis: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Caryota mitis: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Caryota mitis: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Caryota mitis Whole Plant Traits
Caryota mitis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Caryota mitis: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Caryota mitis Cultural Conditions
Caryota mitis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Caryota mitis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Caryota mitis Landscape
Caryota mitis: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Caryota mitis: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
