Sabal palmetto (Walter) Lodd. ex Schult.F.

Stems usually aerial, 20--35 cm diam. Leaves 15--30, strongly costapalmate, bearing threadlike fibers between segments; hastula acute to acuminate, 5.3--18 cm; segments 55--120 ´ 2.5--4.2 cm; apices bifid2-cleft. Inflorescences with 3 orders of branching (not counting main inflorescence axis), arching, equaling or exceeding leaves in length. Flowers 4.1--6.7 mm. Fruits black, spheroid, length 8--13.8 mm, diam. 8.1--13.9 mm. Seeds 4--7 mm, diam. 5.4--9.7 mm diam. 2n = 36.

A tropical plant. It grows in the tropics and subtropics. It will grow in coastal sand dunes and tidal flats and in seasonally flooded land. It does best in fertile and well watered conditions. It grows to 34°C North. It suits plant hardiness zones 8-12. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.

The growing point or cabbage can be eaten, raw or cooked. The pulp of the fruit is eaten. It is also made into syrup and dried and made into bread. The pith of the upper trunk is chewed and also made into a pie or boiled with raisins and syrup as a pudding. The ashes are used as a salt substitute.

The plant is grown from seed. The seed germinate easily given heat and humidity.