Sabal ID

[Turtlesteve]

Would like opinions on this one.  Pictured with S. palmetto.  Is this just a very large S. minor?

Notes:

- Leaves about 3' diameter.  It's been over-pruned, and would otherwise be holding about 20-30 live leaves based on the number of green leaf bases.

- Ground level to the top of the tallest leaf is about 8' and the tallest inflorescence extends at least 4' beyond the leaves.

- Produces huge quantities of seed, and started seeding when quite small (old inflorescence stalks all the way to ground level).

- Fruit is about 10mm and seeds about 6mm, same as s. palmetto / s. minor

 

[PalmatierMeg]

I would say minor. Compared to the palmetto next to it, the leaves are much less costapalmate and very blue. And it looks like a volunteer, not an artfully planted specimen. Have you seen any other Sabal spp growing in your area? Without research I'd have to venture a guess that other Sabal spp might not be cold hardy enough to survive SC winters, esp away from the coast (are you?).

[Turtlesteve]

We do have native S. minor, but not in town.  Those that I've seen are not even remotely this size nor distinctive in appearance.  I can't decide if it was an intentional planting or not.  Other species are being grown successfully here, without protection, but only by collectors.

[Laaz]

We have some large minor's around town very similar to that.

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2017 by Laaz

[redbeard917]

I saw a bunch of minors that looked like that when I was in Louisiana. Not that I'm saying that's definitely a var. 'Louisiana' necessarily. But they all seemed to have lower leaflets that kind of fold down like that, similar color and robustness, and look like they almost want to start trunking.