Scrub palmetto, Scrub cabbage
Sabal etonia

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. The stems occur singly and are short and underground. They can be erect up to 2 m tall. There are 4-7 leaves. They are yellow-green with a prominent mid-vein. There are 25-50 leaflets. They are rigid and joined for a short distance at the base. There are threads along the edges. The flowering stalk is branched to 2 orders. The flowering stalks stick upwards and are shorter than the leaves. The fruit are almost round. They are 0.9-1.5 cm long and 0.8-1.3 cm wide. They are brownish black.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in the understory or oak-pine forest on sandy soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, North America, Southern Africa, USA (country/location of origin), Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The terminal bud or cabbage is eaten as a vegetable. The fruit are eaten. They only have a very small amount of pulp.

Edible parts

Fruit, palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Sabal adansonia var. megacarpa Chapm.; Sabal megacarpa (Chapm.) Small;