I-Caryota iwuhlobo lwezihlahla zesundu emndenini we-Arecaceae, owaziwa kakhulu ngokuthi ama-fishtail palm. Igama elithi "Caryota" livela egameni lesiGreki elithi "karyon" elisho amantongomane noma uhlamvu, futhi libhekisela ekumeni kwesithelo esikhiqizwa yilezi sundu. Izihlahla zesundu ze-Fishtail zaziwa ngamacembe awo ahlukene e-bipinnate, afana nephiko lomsila wenhlanzi, kanye namaqoqo awo amakhulu ezithelo. Kunezinhlobo ezingaba ngu-13 ohlotsheni lweCaryota, ezitholakala ezindaweni ezishisayo nezishisayo zase-Asia nase-Australia.