The Fishtail Palm, scientifically known as Carota, is a distinctive palm species characterized by its unique, fish-tail shaped leaflets. Native to Southeast Asia and Australia, it's a popular choice for landscaping due to its graceful appearance and adaptability. It's known for its clumping habit, producing multiple slender trunks, and its feathery, bipinnate leaves. 

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Fishtail Palm

Here's a more detailed description:

Appearance:

Leaves:

The most striking feature is the leaves, which are bipinnate (each leaflet is further divided into smaller segments) and have a jagged edge, resembling a fish's tail. 

Trunks:

Fishtail palms can be solitary or clump-forming, with multiple slender trunks. 

Size:

Depending on the species and growing conditions, they can reach heights of 20-60 feet. 

Bark:

The trunks are typically smooth and gray with leaf scar rings. 

Cultivation:

Climate: They thrive in warm, tropical climates and prefer temperatures between 65°F to 85°F (18°C to 29°C). 

Light: They prefer bright, indirect sunlight, but can tolerate partial shade. 

Soil: Well-draining soil that retains moisture is ideal. 

Watering: Regular watering to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. 

Maintenance: Relatively low maintenance, requiring occasional pruning of faded foliage and trimming of excessively tall stalks. 

Other notable features:

Flowering:

Fishtail palms eventually flower, with flowers appearing at the top of the trunk first and then lower down. 

Fruit:

The fruit is a small, round berry that is toxic to humans and can cause dermatitis. 

Monocarpic:

The trunk that produces flowers and fruit will eventually die, but other trunks in the clump will continue to grow. 

Uses:

They are used for ornamental landscaping, as screens or hedges, and even as houseplants in temperate regions.