Scientific Name
Other Names
Life Form
Family
Food - It is used in the preparation of palm wine, jaggery, sago, and fiber from the leaves. Medicine - It is used to treat anemia, jaundice, burning sensations, dizziness, and bleeding from various parts of the body (de Salva et al. 2022).
India
Native to India, Sri Lanka
Gets the name "Fishtail" from its distinctive leaves. Is notable for its sap, which has various uses.
It is a solitary palm with a crown of large leaves, growing to a height of 15-20 m.
The stem is solitary, unbranched, and thick. It is covered in persistent leaf bases, giving it a rough, fibrous appearance. The trunk is ringed with leaf scars.
Leaves are large, bipinnate, and wedge-shaped. They are divided into numerous leaflets arranged in clusters. The leaves are dark green and leathery. The overall shape resembles a fishtail.
Flowers are small and yellowish-white, arranged in branched clusters below the leaves. Male and female flowers are borne on the same plant. The inflorescence resembles a drooping catkin.
Fruit is a small, round, red berry-like drupe. It contains a single seed. The fruits are produced in dense clusters and are edible but astringent.
Flowering: Once in a lifetime, towards the end of the palm's life
Fruiting: Once the last fruit on the bottom inflorescence matures, the plant dies