Palms   Serenoa repens

Synonymy: Sabal serrulata Common Names: Saw Palmetto Distribution: Southeastern USA. Habitat: Open forest, and coastal dunes. Description: A small, densely clumping fan palm, usually with a subterranean trunk, but occasionally emergent to about 3m, with heavily armed petioles, and either plain green or glaucous leaves. General: The berry has long been an important source of herbal medicines, and is now one of the main sources of a herbal drug used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a non-malignant enlargement of the prostrate. Click here for more information.

Figure 1. S. repens in habitat, Florida

Culture:
Sunny, moist, but well drained position. Very tolerant of coastal exposure. Cold sensitive. Very tough once established. A usefull barrier plant, due to its dense clumping nature, and spines.

Figure 2. Green form of S. repens in the Palermo Botanic Gardens.

Contributed by:	Jason Skells (Figure 1)
	Angelo Porcelli (Figure 2)

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