4 replies to this topic

[AggiePalms]

Hey everybody

I think the pictured trees are an unusual Sabal variety; they are growing nearby to my house, and are native I assume? They get large (up to 3-5 m) and costapalmate with very twisted leaves - more like S. maritima and some of the other non-native species. Not so much like typical S. palmetto or S. minor, or have I just been missing this variety all these years? These grow right down to the brackish water line, no more than 30 cm above the water, on a very small island. They are very hardy, having survived temperatures of c. -9C.

If you can tell me what variety of S. palmetto/minor these are, I will happily send you some very fresh seeds. If you cannot identify them, that's ok, I will send some seeds to you anyway if I have any remaining. I don't have a lot of seeds, but I will do my best.

Thanks!

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[Jeff zone 8 N.C.]

A wind blown Sabal bermudana? I wonder if some migrating or wind blown bird brought the seeds to that little island. If you do have some extra seeds I would like to try 3 or 4.

[PalmatierMeg]

David, are these different palms from the dwarf, "flattened" Sabals you sent out seeds for last year? I germninated those seeds along with "normnal" Sabal minor you also sent me and I can tell the difference. The strap leaves from the flattened seedlings are shorter and wider than normal S.m. I look forward to how they change as they grow. Do you have a photo of the mutant parent?

BTW, I'm sending you a PM.

[AggiePalms]

Jeff: They sure do look like bermudana...who knows, maybe a bird did carry them; I have only noticed them in one small area, so they could be descended from an original very small population. PM me your address and I will send you some. They are pretty cool.

Meg: Glad you remember those little flat S. minor from last year. I'm glad they are doing well. Those I sent last year are from one small flat plant, fronds no more than a foot or so high; these I have found this year are up to 10-15 feet with a good clear trunk. Definitately not the same variety, and I doubt the same species. Anyway, I sent you a PM, and of course you can have some seeds.

Everybody keep your thinking caps on about ID'ing this Sabal.

[bananaman]

Maybe it is some sort of hybrid Sabal.
Also, it could be one of the tropical ones could have sprouted from seed, and hybridized with the native ones...

It looks a lot like Sabal yapa. Maybe a seed or two from Cuba came in on a bird or by the tides.

Edited by bananaman, 12 November 2011 - 06:35 AM.