Hi all, we have a strong growing palm at our house, but no idea what it is. It's leaves have a shredded appearance, though the seed pods are bizzare. They start out like a sharp beak and grow massively in size. A year on the pods burst open and trails of tentacles spill out. Eventually small yellow flowers appear and the seeds eventually change from green to bown and fall off. What is this palm called? I can't find anything like it on the internet. Photos attached. Many thanks in advance, Phil
G'day Phil, Ron is correct. Caryota or Fishtail Palm. I have a clumping form though I always liked the solitary forms.. And good to see another Aussie on here mate!! Ed
Get the chainsaw ready; looks like that one's just about toast. Sorry to say, but it's on its last legs; these flower from top to bottom, then drop stone dead...
Hi Ron, Ed and DGuertin, many thanks for the info! It looks like as soon as the last blooms appear on the lowest branch, the palm karks itself. Hope to have a empty garden bin when this happens though! I am pretty keen to collect the seeds and try to grow some to sell, as this will be my last chance. Thanks again for getting back to my query. Regards, Phil
I also should mention I wasn't joking about the chainsaw... The wood of these palms is incredibly hard even when alive, it only gets worse when dead. If you weren't in Oz ,I ship you a fivver for a bit of that for knife making!
