Sabal minor ‘Spock’ Revisited

[Bigfish]

In 2015, I discovered a population of Sabal minor that had several mutants with fused leaflets, much like Sabal palmetto ‘Lisa’, and some with a very deep split down the middle of the leaf.  I was able to collect a few seeds the following year from one palm, but wasn’t able to get back there until last year.  This time, I was able to collect seeds from a number of palms with this trait, plus a wild-looking one with claw-shaped leaves.  I’m planning on growing all of them out, selecting only the best ones, and then eventually using those as a seed source.  
 

The one that I collected seeds from several years ago has produced palms that still have stiff, bifid leaves, but I think it’s still too early to tell what they will look like as adults.  I’ll get some pictures of them soon as well.

[Bigfish]

Here’s the one with “Killer Claw” type leaves.  It’s a killer little palm, and I was able to collect seeds.  It remains to be seen if the trait will be passed on.  These little palms are so variable.

[awkonradi]

Very interesting.  Keep us posted.

[GoatLockerGuns]

8 hours ago, Bigfish said:

 I was able to collect a few seeds the following year from one palm, but wasn’t able to get back there until last year.

What do you mean by "back there?"  Where are these Sabal minor located?

[spike]

Really cool! did you end up finding the bifid leaf one again? I'd guess they all have this mutation but exhibit it to different degrees.

[PalmatierMeg]

Good finds. Sabal minor is so variable.

[Darold Petty]

Very cool, thanks for posting, and thanks for your cultivation efforts.  

[Bigfish]

5 hours ago, GoatLockerGuns said:

What do you mean by "back there?"  Where are these Sabal minor located?

South Georgia.

[Bigfish]

ect

5 hours ago, spike said:

Really cool! did you end up finding the bifid leaf one again? I'd guess they all have this mutation but exhibit it to different degrees.

No, not the exact plant.  Several with similar mutations though.  A lumber company came in there and sprayed whatever vegetation killer that they spray to kill underbrush a couple of years after I found them, and killed a lot of Sabal minor and Rhapidophyllum, then cut down all of the trees in the lot directly adjacent to them.  A lot came back though.

[Bigfish]

I took a few pictures today of two of the palms I grew from seed collected several years ago (not sure exactly when).  The largest one was making stiff, bifid leaves, but the latest leaf is not split at all.  The second one has a couple of split leaves, and the newest one is very cupped and not split, but has a window.  The others are either still making bifid leaves or are still a little small and don’t have split leaves yet.  They all seem a little stiffer than normal.  It’s still too early to tell what will happen in the adult form, but it’s encouraging!