Botanical Description
The Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) is a solitary palm with a smooth bottle-shaped trunk with distinct rings due to leaf scarring, it also has a distinct green crownshaft. Its specific epithet is derived from its pinnate bifurcated leaves which resembles the tail of a fox, this in turn is where it gets its common name. The florets white are borne upon a panicle, the inflorescence itself emerges from below the crownshaft. The fruit is oval and is a red-orange upon maturity with forked fibers. Its genus honors Wodyeti, an aboriginal man, who was described as an anthropological and linguistic informant.
Uses:
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The flesh of the fruit is allegedly edible although potentially toxic to dogs.
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The plant is cultivated throughout gardens all over the world for its unique features such as its distinct leaves and its large colorful fruits.