Caryota mitis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Caryota furfuracea
- Drymophloeus zippellii
- Thuessinkia speciosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- kair-ee-OH-tah MY-tiss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Burmese fishtail palm is a large, subtropical, perennial flowering tree native to Southeast Asia where it is most often found in moist organic soil over limestone in mesic hammocks and disturbed wooded areas. The plant can reach a height of 40 feet with upright and arching branches, and solitary or clustered, unbranched stems. The leaves are large, long-stalked, arching, and bi-pinnately divided into leaflets which are widest above the middle and irregularly toothed at the apex. The pinnules are asymmetrical and incised and resemble fish tails, hence the common name. The purple flowers are small and bloom in the summer and the fruit is a fleshy berry.
The Burmese fishtail palm is sometimes used as an indoor ornamental in a container with rich soil and prefers medium light and low to medium relative humidity. It does best in warm climates and will tolerate a light frost, but is not cold hardy. You should water the plant only when the soil is dry. The plant has shallow roots and should be protected from wind.
Quick ID Hints:
- small, clumping palm
- smooth, gray bark, 4 to 6 inches in diameter
- large bipinnately compound leaves, 4 to 9 inches long,
- shaggy fibers cover the petioles and leaf sheaths
- 1/4 inch wide, pale purple flowers that initially appear at the top of the stem
- the fruits are small, round berries that are yellow-green to reddish black.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for spider mites and scale when grown indoors. They can be a serious problem for this plant. It is also susceptible to lethal yellowing disease. The fruits are poisonous and are harmful to children and pets. Severe skin irritation can occur if the fruits are eaten or handled.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Caryota
- Species:
- mitis
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Burmese fishtail palm is used as a poison and a medicine and for fuel and food.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast China to Indo-China and Malesia, India, Philippines.
- Distribution:
- Introduced into Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad-Tobago, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
- Edibility:
- Seed kernels are edible, but the berries are toxic.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is round, 0.5 inches in diameter, and reddish-black berry. It is not showy and does not attract wildlife.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Mature plants first flower at the top of the stem then flower down the stem. After the last flowering, the stem dies and should be removed. The clump, however, will produce more stems.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Sheath
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 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. The leaves are large at 6 1/2 to 13 feet long.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- It is multi-trunked with gray smooth bark and covered with leaf sheaths.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Solitary or clustered, unbranched stems up to 33 feet tall and 6 inches in diameter. Leaf bases and sheaths fibrous, becoming bare and ringed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- The berries of this plant are toxic and can cause sever pain in the mouth if eaten. Can also cause minor skin irritation that can last several minutes. Other symptoms include burning and swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat; difficulty speaking; and redness and swelling of skin and eyes after handling berries.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Calcium oxalate crystals
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
