Kiriwong Fishtail Palm

Caryota kiriwongensis is a massive, solitary fishtail palm native to wet mountain forest in southern Peninsular Thailand. It can reach about 35 m tall, with immense leaves divided into jagged fish-tail-shaped leaflets. The species was described from the Kiriwong area, where it grows on steep, rocky slopes in humid forest. ## Form and scale The [description by palm taxonomist Donald Hodel](https://palms.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/v53n4p171-172.pdf) reports a trunk about 85 cm across and leaf blades more than 8 m long. Its height and wide crown suit only spacious tropical landscapes where the palm can be viewed from a distance and kept clear of buildings and overhead lines. ## Growing conditions The [Kew species profile](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/60453504-2) records the species as native to Peninsular Thailand in a wet tropical biome. Its documented habitat is wet mountain forest at about 1,200 m elevation. ## Maintenance This is a monocarpic palm: it flowers and fruits once, then dies. [Caryota fruit contains irritant crystals](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:665636-1), so avoid handling it with bare hands.