Sabal

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The genus Sabal is a genus of palms (family Arecaceae), many of the species being known as palmetto. They are fan palms (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae), with the leaves with a bare petiole terminating in a rounded fan of numerous leaflets; in some of the species, the leaflets are joined for up to half of their length. A variable portion of the leaf petiole may remain persistent on the trunk for many years after leaf fall leaving the trunk rough and spiky, but in some, the lower trunk loses these leaf bases and becomes smooth.

The central bud of the sabal palm can be eaten; it provides the food hearts of palm. The trees are grown commercially for this product, particularly in Brazil. Hearts of palm are occasionally available fresh and whole, but are usually sold cut in pieces and canned.

Distribution and species

There are 13 species, native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of the New World, from the southeast United States south through the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America to Colombia in northern South America.

• Sabal bermudana Bermuda Palmetto - Bermuda
• Sabal blackburniana Hispaniola Palmetto - Hispaniola
• Sabal causiarum Puerto Rico Hat Palm - Puerto Rico
• Sabal etonia Scrub Palmetto - southern Florida
• Sabal jamaicensis Jamaica Palmetto - Jamaica, West Indies
• Sabal japa Cana Rata - Cuba
• Sabal mauritiiformis Palma de Vaca - Colombia
• Sabal mexicana Mexican Palmetto - west Texas, Mexico, Guatemala
• Sabal minor Dwarf Palmetto - Arkansas to North Carolina south to Florida and east Texas
• Sabal palmetto Cabbage Palmetto - Florida north to North Carolina
• Sabal parviflora Cuban Palmetto - Cuba
• Sabal princeps Palma Cana - Cuba
• Sabal uresana Sonoran Palmetto - northwest Mexico