Arecaceae

Country of Origin: India, Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka
Habitat: moist flatlands to montane rainforest up to 1000'

Subfamily Arecoideae
Tribe Areceae

Caryota urens L.

Description: Monocarpic palm exhibiting an erect single trunk, up to 30 m tall, bearing ringed scars left by fallen leaves. The trunk reaches its maximum height before bloom. Leaves are 3 to 6 m long, bipinnate, bearing wedge-shaped, marginally toothed leaflets somewhat like a fish tail, their size is 10-20 cm by 9-10 cm, their colour dark green. Flowers are unisexual on monoecious plants, alternating on apical, branched inflorescences, enveloped by 2 carinate, marginally fibrous spathes. Fruits, as large as cherries, are globose and reddish.

Uses: The sap of this palm is very high in simple sugars. In India and other Asian countries, the palm is tapped for its syrup which is often fermented into an alcoholic beverage called toddy. The syrup is also processed into a granular sugar called jaggery.

Poisonous Plant Parts - Not for Human Consumption
Avoid contact with the red fruit produced by this palm. It contains oxalic acid which is toxic when ingested, and contact with skin may result in severe chemical burns.

The Palms - last visited 02April2003 Floridata - last visited 02 April 2003