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SPECIES:  Sabal palmetto

Introductory
SPECIES: Sabal palmetto
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Van Deelen, Timothy R. 1991. Sabal palmetto. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 
Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/sabpal/all.html [].


ABBREVIATION : 
SABPAL

SYNONYMS : 
   Sabal jamesiana Small


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   SAPA


COMMON NAMES : 
   cabbage palmetto


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name for cabbage palmetto is Sabal
palmetto (Walt.) Lodd. (Arecaceae).  There are no infrataxa [22].


LIFE FORM : 
Tree

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY

DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Sabal palmetto



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : 
Cabbage palmetto grows throughout peninsular Florida and the Florida
Keys.  It grows in the coastal areas of the Florida panhandle, Georgia,
and South Carolina [19,22].  It is cultivated in Hawaii [23].  Outside of
the United States, cabbage palmetto occurs in the Bahamas and Cuba
[19,22].


ECOSYSTEMS : 
   FRES12  Longleaf - slash pine
   FRES13  Loblolly - shortleaf pine
   FRES14  Oak - pine
   FRES16  Oak - gum - cypress
   FRES41  Wet grasslands


STATES : 
     FL  GA  HI  SC



BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS : 
NO-ENTRY


KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS : 
   K079  Palmetto prairie
   K090  Live oak - sea oats
   K092  Everglades
   K112  Southern mixed forest
   K115  Sand pine scrub
   K116  Subtropical pine forest


SAF COVER TYPES : 
    70  Longleaf pine
    73  Southern redcedar
    74  Cabbage palmetto
    84  Slash pine
   105  Tropical hardwoods
   111  South Florida slash pine


SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES : 
NO-ENTRY


HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES : 
In southern Florida, cabbage palmetto is a common component of high and
low hammock, tree island, and mixed conifer-hardwood swamp communities
[2,3,7,9,10,13,15].  Elsewhere it grows in more xeric scrub and Miami
rock-ridge inland communities [4,15].  In the Florida Panhandle,
Georgia, and South Carolina, cabbage palmetto grows within 12 miles (20
km) of the coast.  It is a componenet of several diverse plant
communities, including those characteristic of dunes, salt flats,
barrier islands, and cactus thickets [1].

Associates are many and varied because of the diversity of Florida's
flora and the ecological amplitude of cabbage palmetto.  Overstory
associates include south Florida slash pine (Pinus elliottii var.
densa), slash pine (P. elliottii var. elliottii), pond pine (P.
serotina), loblolly pine (P. taeda), longleaf pine (P. palustris),
eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana), various evergreen oaks (Quercus
spp.), loblolly-bay (Gordonia lasianthus), red bay (Persea borbonia),
magnolia (Magnolia spp.), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), red maple
(Acer rubrum), baldcypress (Taxodium spp.), pignut hickory (Carya
glabra), gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba), and cocoplum (Chrysobalanus
icaco).  Understory associates include gallberry (Ilex glabra),
huckleberries (Gaylussacia spp.), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), lyonias
(Lyonia spp.), southern bayberry (Merica cerifera), holly (Ilex spp.),
saw-palmetto (Serenoa repens), greenbriar (Smilax spp.), bracken fern
(Pteridium spp.), poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), bluestem
(Andropogon spp.), sawgrass (Cladium jamaicensis), and beak rush
(Rhynchospora spp.).  Exotic associates and probable competitors include
casuarina (Casuarina spp.), melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia), coconut
(Cocos nucifera), and Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia).

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
SPECIES: Sabal palmetto
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Cabbage palmetto wood is sea-worm resistant, splinter resistant, and
unusual looking (no growth rings).  It is used for warf pilings, poles,
broom handles, and ornamental table tops [19,21].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Black bears, raccoons, bats, northern bobwhites, wild turkeys,
ring-necked gulls, cardinals, great-tailed grackles, blue jays, and
scrub jays all eat cabbage palmetto fruit [19,23].  White-tailed deer
also eat the fruit, but cabbage palmetto foliage is not browsed [13].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Cabbage palmetto is the most wind-resistant tree in southern Florida and
is relatively resistant to damaging insects and other pathogens [19].
It tolerates salt spray and brackish water [23].  These attributes make
cabbage palmetto potentially useful for disturbed site rehabilitation.

Propagation of cabbage palmetto in the nursery requires the collection
of ripe fruits.  Seeds can be separated with a macerator or by rubbing
the fruit on hardware cloth.  Seeds require no pretreatment to break
dormancy, but stratification in moist sand for 30 days at 38 degrees F
(3 deg C) speeds germination.  Seeds should be planted 0.5 to 1 inch
(1.5-3 cm) deep in light soil and should not be allowed to dry out.
There are about 1,650 dried seeds per pound (3,630/kg) [13].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
The terminal bud of cabbage palmetto is edible and tastes somewhat like
cabbage (Brassica spp.)--hence the name.  Removal of the bud kills the
tree.  Cabbage palmetto leaves are used to make canes, scrub brushes,
thatch, and baskets.  Bees use its pollen.  Cabbage palmetto is a
popular ornamental [19,23].


OTHER MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The extensive use of cabbage palmetto for urban landscaping is depleting
natural stocks.  Cabbage palmetto management is clearly needed, though
untried.  Wade and Langdon [19] suggest that cabbage palmetto
silviculture should be fairly simple.  Even and uneven-aged management
of mixed or pure stands are appropriate.  Site drainage and aerial
applications of 2-4-D will damage cabbage palmetto stands [19].

BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Sabal palmetto
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
The cabbage palmetto is an erect, unbranched palm tree.  It grows to a
height of 33 to 82 feet (10-25 m) with a stem diameter of 12 to 24
inches (30-60 cm).  Typically the stem diameter is uniform from the
base to the crown.  Leaf bases or "boots" may persist on the stem or
slough off, giving the stem a smooth appearance [5,19,21].

Cabbage palmetto leaves are fan-shaped, palmately divided, and
spineless.  They are borne on a prominately-arching midrib and may be 3
to 9 feet (1-3 m) long.  Cabbage palmetto flowers are perfect, showy,
and creamy to yellowish white.  They are borne in arching or drooping
clusters.  The fruit is a black, fleshy, drupe that contains a single
brown spherical seed [13].  Sargent (1933 in [19]) described the cabbage
palmetto root system as a short, bulbous, underground stem surrounded by
a dense mass of contorted roots with smaller, light orange roots
penetrating the soil to a depth of 15 to 20 feet (4.6-6.1 m).


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Cabbage palmetto flowers are insect pollinated [13,19,23].  Fruits
persist on the spadix until removed by wind, rain, or birds such as
ringed-neck gulls, fish crows, cardinals, and blue jays.  On the ground,
cabbage palmetto seeds are eaten or cached by small mammals.  Birds and
mammals act as dispersal agents.  Cabbage palmetto seeds are buoyant and
salt resistant.  Near coastal areas, water is an important means of seed
dispersal as well [23].  Meyers (1977 in [19]) reports that seed
survival is low.  Of roughly 620,000 seeds produced per acre
(1,500,000/ha), only about 9 percent survive frugivory.  Seeds exposed
to sunlight for long periods do not germinate well.  The first year's
growth consists of a primary root, one fully expanded leaf, and a
rhizomatous stem.  There is no information on vegetative growth [19].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Climate:  Cabbage palmetto grows in a humid, subtropical to
warm-temperate climate.  Within its range, the average annual rainfall
is 39 to 64 inches (100-163 cm).  The average maximum and minimum
temperatures range from 97 to 25 degrees F (36 to -4 deg C).  Low winter
temperatures probably limit cabbage palmetto's northern range.

Soils:  Cabbage palmetto tolerates a wide range of soil acidities,
salinities, and drainage conditions.  It grows best on neutral to
alkaline soils which are rich in calcium.  Because of its calcium
affinity, cabbage palmetto frequently grows near exposed calcareous
sands, marls, and limestones.  Cabbage palmetto prefers poorly to very
poorly drained soils and often grows on the edge of freshwater and
brackish wetlands.  It tolerates salt and occasional flooding.  The
Entisol, Alfisol, Ultisol, and Spodosol soil orders all support cabbage
palmetto.

At the northern limit of its range, cabbage palmetto grows mainly on the
baysides of coastal dunes.  In central Florida it grows on periodically
flooded lowlands, relict inland dunes, and ridges below 100 feet (30 m).
With drainage, cabbage palmetto invades the once seasonally inundated
interhammock glades.  Along freshwater sources, cabbage palmetto can
form pure stands covering up to 25 acres (10 ha).  Such stands are
called "river hammocks" if along a river, and "cabbage-palm hammocks" or
"palm savannas" if inland [1].

Cabbage palmetto growth may indicate sites influenced by subtropical
conditions [12] or frequent fires [15].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
The successional status of cabbage palmetto is disputed.  Wade and
Langdon [19] described it as shade-tolerant, and characteristic of
climatic climax, and fire climax communities.  Daubenmire [4], however,
described it as an early seral, woody invader of open savannas.
Similarly, Zona [23] reported that it is shade intolerant and that
seedlings under a closed canopy remain suppressed and form no
aboveground stem.  Stem elongation and sexual maturation await gap
formation in the canopy.  In more open habitats along forest edges, on
dunes, and in abandoned fields, growth and recruitment are immediate
with no suppressed stage.  Cabbage palmetto thrives in anthropogenic
habitats.


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Cabbage palmetto flowers from April to August, depending on latitude.
Fruits begin to develop in the fall and are mature by winter [13,19,23].

FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Sabal palmetto
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : 
Cabbage palmetto grows in areas where ground fires are frequent and
common but crown fires are rare.  It has a well-protected, deeply
imbedded terminal bud, which is held aloft on a fire-resistant trunk.
It survives fire [19].

FIRE REGIMES : 
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this 
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find Fire Regimes".

POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : 
   not applicable

FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Sabal palmetto
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Cabbage palmettos probably sustain only superficial damage from most
fires.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
When growing on organic soil or soil with a deep organic layer, very
severe fires may consume the soil itself, killing cabbage palmettos by
root damage and lack of mechanical support [19].


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Most fires probably favor cabbage palmetto growth by removing
competition.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
Frequent fires allow cabbage palmetto to form pure stands and invade
mixed stands [19].  Twenty-one years of fires in Everglades National
Park resulted in a net increase in cabbage palmetto stems [17].  Egler
wrote that the increase in fire severity and decrease in fire frequency
following European settlement allowed cabbage palmettos to dominate high
hammock communities in southern Florida [6].


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

REFERENCES
SPECIES: Sabal palmetto
REFERENCES : 

 .  Alexander, Taylor R. 1955. Observations on the ecology of the low
       hammocks of southern Florida. Journal of the Florida Academy of
       Sciences. 18(1): 21-27.  [11467]

 .  Alexander, Taylor R. 1958. High hammock vegetation of the southern
       Florida mainland. Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences.
       21(4): 293-298.  [11468]

 .  Austin, Daniel F.; Posin, Freda R.; Burch, James N. 1987. Scrub species
       patterns on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, Florida. Journal of Coastal
       Research. 3(4): 491-498.  [9340]

 .  Daubenmire, Rexford. 1990. The Magnolia grandiflora-Quercus virginiana
       forest of Florida. American Midland Naturalist. 123: 331-347.  [10871]

 .  Duncan, Wilbur H.; Duncan, Marion B. 1988. Trees of the southeastern
       United States. Athens, GA: The University of Georgia Press. 322 p. 
       [12764]

 .  Egler, Frank E. 1952. Southeast saline Everglades vegetation, Florida,
       and its management. Vegetatio. 3: 213-265.  [11479]

 .  Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and
       Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p.  [905]

 .  Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others].
       1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range
       ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
       Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p.  [998]

 .  Klukas, Richard W. 1973. Control burn activities in Everglades National
       Park. In: Proceedings, annual Tall Timbers fire ecology conference; 1972
       June 8-9; Lubbock, TX. Number 12. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research
       Station: 397-425.  [8476]

.  Kuchler, A. W. 1964. Manual to accompany the map of potential vegetation
       of the conterminous United States. Special Publication No. 36. New York:
       American Geographical Society. 77 p.  [1384]

.  Loveless, Charles M. 1959. A study of the vegetation in the Florida
       Everglades. Ecology. 40(1): 1-9.  [11478]

.  Monk, Carl D. 1966. An ecological study of hardwood swamps in
       north-central Florida. Ecology. 47: 649-654.  [10802]

.  Olson, David F., Jr.; Barnes, R. L. 1974. Sabal Adans.   palmetto. In:
       Schopmeyer, C. S., ed. Seeds of woody plants in the United States.
       Agriculture Handbook No. 450. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
       Agriculture, Forest Service: 744-745.  [7744]

.  Oosting, Henry J. 1954. Ecological processes and vegetation of the
       maritime strand in the southeastern United States. Botanical Review. 20:
       226-262.  [10730]

.  Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant
       geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p.  [2843]

.  Richardson, Donald Robert. 1977. Vegetation of the Atlantic Coastal
       Ridge of Palm Beach County, Florida. Florida Scientist. 40(4): 281-330. 
       [9644]

.  Taylor, Dale L.; Herndon, Alan. 1981. Impact of 22 years of fire on
       understory hardwood shrubs in slash pine communities within Everglades
       National Park. Report T-640. Homestead, FL: National Park Service, South
       Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park. 30 p.  [11961]

.  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1994. Plants
       of the U.S.--alphabetical listing. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
       Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 954 p.  [23104]

.  Wade, Dale D.; Langdon, O. Gordon. 1990. Sabal palmetto (Walt.) Lodd. ex
       J. A. & J. H. Schult.  cabbage palmetto. In: Burns, Russell M.; Honkala,
       Barbara H., technical coordinators. Silvics of North America. Vol. 2.
       Hardwoods. Agric. Handb. 654. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
       Agriculture, Forest Service: 762-767.  [13806]

.  Wade, Dale; Ewel, John; Hofstetter, Ronald. 1980. Fire in south Florida
       ecosystems. Gen. Tech. Rep. SE-17. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of
       Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 125
       p.  [10363]

.  Walker, Laurence C. 1990. Forests: A naturalist's guide to trees and
       forest ecology. Wiley Nature Editions. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
       288 p.  [13763]

.  Wunderlin, Richard P. 1982. Guide to the vascular plants of central
       Florida. Tampa, FL: University Presses of Florida, University of South
       Florida. 472 p.  [13125]

.  Zona, Scott. 1990. A monograph of Sabal (Arecaceae: Coryphoideae).
       Aliso. 12(4): 583-666.  [12476]

.  St. John, Harold. 1973. List and summary of the flowering plants in the
       Hawaiian islands. Hong Kong: Cathay Press Limited. 519 p.  [25354]