Scrub Palmetto

Sabal etonia is found in the deep white sand of sand pine (Pinus clausa) scrub communities of the Central Florida Ridge and the Atlantic Coastal Ridge (S. Zona and W. S. Judd 1986). The habitat of S. etonia is under pressure from both agriculture and urbanization, but fortunately vast tracts are preserved in the Ocala National Forest.

This species is restricted to the oölitic limestone of the pine rocklands of Dade County (S. Zona 1985). The natural habitat of Sabal miamiensis has been urbanized, so this species is likely extinct. Despite differences in habitat, this species may not be distinct from S. etonia.

Stems usually subterranean. Leaves 4--7, yellow-green, strongly costapalmate, curved, bearing fibers between segments; hastula narrowly triangular, 1.6--3.3 cm; segments 35--64 ´ 1.3--3.1 cm; apices bifid2-cleft. Inflorescences bushy and compact, densely branched with 2 orders of branching (not counting main inflorescence axis), ascending, about as ± long as leaves. Flowers 4.9--6.1 mm. Fruits brownish black, oblate-spheroid, length 8.5--13.1 mm, diam. diam. 9--15.4 mm diam.; mesocarp thick, fleshy. Seeds 5.4--6.7 mm, diam. 6.4--9.9 mm. diam.

Stems subterranean. Leaves 3--6, yellow-green, strongly costapalmate; hastula narrowly triangular, 2.4--7.7 cm; segments filiferous, 50--85 ´ 2.8--3.0 cm; apices bifid2-cleft. Inflorescences paniculate, loosely branched with 3 orders of branching (not counting main inflorescence axis), horizontal-arching, about as long as leaves. Flowers 5--5.5 mm. Fruits black, shiny, oblate-spheroid, length 14.3--16.9 mm, diam. 15.7--19 mm; pericarp thick, fleshy. Seeds 6.2--6.7 mm, diam. 10.2--11 mm diam.

Fla.

Fla.

Flowering spring--summer.

Flowering spring--summer.

Deep white sand in sand pine scrub; 10--50m.

Rocky calcareous soil of Miami pinelands; of conservation concern; 0--10m.

Sabal adansonii Guersent var. megacarpa Chapman; S. megacarpa (Chapman) Small