Thai Giant fishtail palm
Caryota obtusa

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It has one stem. It grows 40 m tall and the trunk is 50-90 cm wide. It is often swollen. The leaves are in a compact crown at the top. The leaf stalks are 1-2 m long and the leafy shoots are 4-6 m long with 19-22 leaflets on each side. There are 20-27 secondary leaflets on each side of the secondary shoots. The ends are blunt and the edges jagged. The flowering shoot is 6 m long and produced amongst the leaves.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mountain rain forests usually on limestone between 1,400-1,800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The stems are processed to produce flour. The stems and leaves are cooked in stir-fries.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Palm heart, shoots, stem - starch

How it is grown

It flowers once then dies.

Its other names

Local names

A lei, Dei din, Guo bang, La wo ba ma

Synonyms

Caryota gigas Hahn ex Hodel; Caryota obtusidentata Griff.; Caryota rumphiana var. indica Becc.;