| Caryota urens | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Caryota |
| Species: | C. urens |
| Binomial name | |
| Caryota urens L. |
|
Caryota urens is a species of flowering plant in the palm family from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and India where they grow in fields and rain-forest clearings. The epithet urens is Latin for 'stinging' alluding to the chemicals in the fruit. They are commonly called solitary fishtail palm, toddy palm, wine palm, jaggery palm or கூந்தற்பனை (in Tamil)and කිතුල් (in sinhala). According to Monier-Williams, it is called moha-karin ("delusion maker") in Sanskrit. It is one of the Sugar palms.
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Caryota urens is species is solitary-trunked to 12 metres (39 ft) in height and trunk 30 centimetres (0.98 ft) wide. Widely-spaced leaf-scar rings cover the gray trunks which culminate in a 6 metres (20 ft) wide, 6 metres (20 ft) tall leaf crown. The bipinnate leaves are triangular in shape, bright to deep green, 3.5 metres (11 ft) long, and held on 60 cm long petioles. The obdeltoid pinnae are 30 cm long with a pointed edge and a jagged edge (hence, jaggery palm).
The 3 metres (9.8 ft)long inflorescences emerge at each leaf node, from top to bottom, producing pendent clusters of white, unisexual flowers. The fruit matures to a round, 1 cm drupe, red in color with one seed. Like all Caryotas, the fruit contains oxalic acid, a skin and membrane irritant. As these plants are monocarpic, the completion of the flower and fruiting process results in the death of the tree.
This species is called kithul in Sri Lanka. It is the source of kithul treacle, a liquid jaggery.[1]
Caryota urens is cultivated as an ornamental tree, and planted in gardens and parks in tropical and sub-tropical climates. It is also used as a interior and houseplant when smaller.