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Fishtail Palm

Scientific Name : Caryota maxima Blume
Common Name : Fishtail Palm
Chinese Name : 魚尾葵, 青棕, 假桄榔
Family : ARECACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species

Anecdotes on plants

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Origins	South China, including the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan and Fujian. It is also distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia.
Caryota	In Hong Kong, there are two types of “Fishtail Palm” - the Fishtail Palm Caryota maxima Blume and the Lesser Fishtail Palm Caryota mitis Lour. Both species have bipinnate leaves (leaves divided into two orders) that shaped like fish bones, and the pinnae even divided into fishtail shape, hence given the word “Fishtail” in their common names. However, the word “Lesser” in the English name of the later one refers to its shorter inflorescence, and its species epithet “mitis” means “mild and gentle”. Not only does the Fishtail Palm have a larger inflorescence than the Lesser Fishtail Palm, but its overall size is also greater, which explains its species epithet “maxima”, meaning “the largest”. While the stem of the Fishtail Palm is solitary, the stem of the Lesser Fishtail Palm grows in clusters with many black reticulated fibres on surface. In Hong Kong, the Lesser Fishtail Palm is more common, which is often seen in parks and gardens.
Applications	The stem medulla of Fishtail Palm is edible and rich in starch, can be used as a substitute for Sugar Palm powder. Its brown sapwood is sturdy, which can be made into canes and chopsticks. The silhouette of Fishtail Palm is beautifully neat, and its main stem stands straight solitarily, that is why this species are commonly planted for ornamental purposes.
Toxicity	The fruit of the Fishtail Palm is poisonous. Its juice can cause skin irritation and itching. Direct contact and ingestion should be avoided.

Traits for identification

Growing habit	Tree-like palm.
Height	To 25 m.
Stems	Solitary stem columnar, diameter to 50 cm, leaving conspicuous grey annular scars.
Leaves	Bipinnate. Leaves large, to 4 m long, borne along upper half of stems. Primarily divided into 27 pairs of pendulous pinnae, which further divided into 12 to 27 pairs of secondary pinnae. Pinnae dark green, shaped like fish tail, drooping. The terminal secondary pinna large, cuneate, apex 2- to 3-lobed; lateral secondary pinnae smaller, rhombic, the outer margin straight, upper part of inner margin irregularly toothed. Sheaths with black fibres on the margin.
Flowers	Monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same inflorescence. Flowers 3-fasciculate, with female flower in the centre. Inflorescences axillary, with many spike-like branches, large and drooping, to 3 m long. Petals of male flowers elliptic, yellow. Stamens many, around 100.
Fruits	Globose, red, purplish red to purplish black when mature. Usually with 1 seed, rarely with 2 seeds.
Flowering period	May to July in Hong Kong.
Fruiting period	August to November in Hong Kong.

Overview of <em>Caryota maxima</em> Blume.

Solitary main stem columnar.

Main stem have conspicuous grey annular scars.

Sheaths with black fibres on the margin, enclosed the stem.

Bipinnate. Pinnae dark green, shaped like fish tail, drooping.

Leaves large, borne along upper half of stems, shaped like fish bones.

Inflorescences axillary, with many spike-like branches, large and drooping.

Monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same inflorescence.

Flower buds of male flower not yet open, petals yellow. Flowers 3-fasciculate, with female flower in the centre.

Male flower of <em>Caryota maxima</em> Blume. Petals of male flowers elliptic, yellow.

Male flower of <em>Caryota maxima</em> Blume. Stamens many, around 100.

Female flowers of <em>Caryota maxima</em> Blume, petals initially green.

Female flowers of <em>Caryota maxima</em> Blume, petals later turns yellow.

Fruit globose, purplish black when mature.

Exposed root system of <em>Caryota maxima</em> Blume.

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Remarks

Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=3162

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Caryota maxima Blume ex Martius
― Plants of the World Online : Caryota maxima Blume

Reference

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). (2018). A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong. 3^rd edition. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12021-3-0.
eFloras. (2008). Caryota maxima Blume ex Martius. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=250095631
eFloras. (2008). Caryota mitis Loureiro. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027070
Gledhill, D. (2009). The Names of Plants (4^th ed.). Online publication date: December 2009; Printed publication year: 2008. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Online ISBN:9780511550898. Retrieved 9^th July 2020, from: https://www-cambridge-org.easyaccess1.lib.cuhk.edu.hk/core/books/names-of-plants/D739FF9428C31ECA3F3220A10C340269
Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Caryota maxima Blume 魚尾葵. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/3162/3162_S_E.pdf
Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Caryota mitis Lour. 短穗魚尾葵(小魚尾葵). Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 21^st July 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/3161/3161_S_E.pdf
中國科學院仙湖植物園。（2016）。《深圳植物誌》（第4卷）。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-8309-5。
中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈魚尾葵Caryota maxima Blume ex Martius〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年7月21日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Caryota%20maxima?t=z
中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈魚尾葵屬Caryota L.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年7月21日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Caryota?t=z
中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈短穗魚尾葵Caryota mitis Lour.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年7月21日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Caryota%20mitis?t=z
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陳冀勝、鄭碩。（1987）。《中國有毒植物》。北京 : 科學出版社。