574.000 Caryota L.

Palms, solitary or clustered; stem slender to massive; smooth with conspicuous nodal rings. Leaves bipinnate; plication induplicate; segments cuneate in 1 plane, apices jagged and irregular; basal segments not modified into spines. Inflorescence initiated basipetally, first one appearing terminally, second one borne axillary among leaves, and later ones below leaves; pendulous, paniculate; peduncular bracts numerous; flowers sessile. Fruit globular, exocarp purple, smooth. Seeds globular.

Worldwide: 13 species in tropical and sub-tropical Asia.

Zambia: 1 cultivated taxon.