Caryota ophiopelis

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Native to several of the islands of Vanuatu. the name 'ophiopelis' refers to its snakeskin-like pattern on the petioles- very ornamental. Often confused with Caryota zebrina, which has very similar petiolar striping. However, Caryota ophiopelis has very thin leaflets compared to Caryota zebrinas noticeably thick, leathery leaflets. Both palms are among the most cold sensitive of the genus, and neither are easy, if even possible, to grow in California. These two species also share another unique characteristic among palms- leaves that are both bipinnate and plumose. All Caryotas, with the possible exception of Caryota monostachya (which seems to not have bipinnate leaves) are bipinnate- pinnate leaves with pinnate 'subleaves' adorned with fishtail leaflets. But Caryota ophiopelis, and zebrina, have their 'subleaves' on alternating planes along the main rachis, hence these leaves are therefore plumose (despite the lack of any typical plumose appearance). Both species are pretty slow growing, even in the tropics.