Update: Former Wild Sabal Lisas at Ft. Myers Palm Park

[PalmatierMeg]

Today we took a drive over to Fort Myers to see the two palm parks in downtown FM. One of them, on Martin Luther King Jr Ave by the former railroad museum is now the home of two formerly wild Sabal palmetto Lisas that were rescued from an I75exit about 10 years ago. The taller of the two palms has been my avatar since I photographed them in situ in 2008. Those two palms have provided many 100s of offspring to members of PT since then. They continue to thrive in their safe home and have grown too tall for us to access seeds except by picking them up from the ground. I saw both palms are flowering and setting seeds about 6 months later than usual. I'd like to find more seeds but have no idea when they will be ripe. Guess I'll have to stay tuned. I took the following photos. Note that the taller palm sheds all its boots and has a bare trunk while the shorter palm hangs on to its boots.

Sabal palmetto Lisa x2, Fort Myers, FL, 09/21

 

[kylecawazafla]

Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing! 

[ahosey01]

Such fantastic looking palms.  And a North American native at that!!

[palmsOrl]

Beautiful, unique palms, thank you for sharing!

-Michael

[Palmarum]

Good to see living history, both protected and thriving.

I hope more seed will be collected and type specimens be grown from this source. It would be nice to add another generation to the park as a back-up.

Ryan

[DallasPalms]

"Sabal Palmetto Lisa" 

Does it mean they originated near Palmetto Sabals? They look alot like the Dominguensis form. Since Dominguensis come from a similar habitat as Palmettos I think it points to the obvious despite the extreme differences in the seed but just my feel and best guess.

or maybe its known already? lol

What are the seeds like on Lisa? Doms are huge with odd shaped fruits and a sort of indention on the bottom of the big seeds at upwards of 1/2 inch just the seeds alone... bermudanas I recall being around half as big but the leaf also reminds me of Lisa... so I wonder what was growing near the original Lisa(s)?

Has it been mentioned?

Edited September 7, 2021 by DallasPalms

[PalmatierMeg]

Sabal palmetto Lisa is a mutant form of Sabal palmetto in which the leaves are fused, appear "pleated" and feel like plastic. They are not S. domingensis, which is a larger palm and does not have fused pinnae in its leaves and is native to Hispaniola and Cuba. In other respects, i.e., size, seeds etc., Sabal Lisa is just like a typical palmetto. It was discovered in the wild in several places in SWFL, including the I75 overpass where these two palms originated. In 2006 it was described and named for the discoverer's wife. Depending on who you ask Sabal Lisa seeds germinate "true" from 20% of the time and up. Personally, I had seeds from the two illustrated Sabal Lisas germinate true up to 67% of the time (I calculated). But I don't guarantee those kind of results for every seed batch. They are popular because they are unique and people like them. And they are rare. I hope people will continue to plant them in landscapes as they are as tough and hardy as typical Sabal palmettos.

[TaylorPlantHunter]

These are really neat they remind me somewhat of Pritchardia the way they hold their leaves.

[Keys6505]

I have a Lisa from @FishEyeAquaculture, I wonder if these are his seed source as well?  Not trying to out anyone, just wondering if I'm looking at the parents of mine!

[FishEyeAquaculture]

@Keys6505, all the Lisa’s that I’ve recently parted with, came from @PalmatierMeg when they were just one or two leaf seedlings

[tinman10101]

thank you @PalmatierMeg for making sure this species endure throughout many palm enthusiast's gardens.   

[DallasPalms]

Thanks for the info! I hope they come around soon I've been trying to get one. I think for now I'll grow however many Bermudanas as I can

"fat fingers look great on palms"

Edited September 8, 2021 by DallasPalms

[DallasPalms]

I realize they're different! But it looks like there maybe some Bermudanas with fused leaves floating around out there in palm land

See 4th and 6th photo on this page:

https://www.palmerasyjardines.com/en/species-catalogue/palm-sabal-bermudana/

 

Edited September 12, 2021 by DallasPalms

[PalmatierMeg]

I've seen photos of a Sabal causiarum with Lisoid traits but never seen one in person. The person who posted the photos hasn't shown up since and neither have any seeds. I'm sure there would be a market for them here if they exist. I've also seen photos of a Chamaerops with purported Lisoid traits but that poster also faded into cyberspace. To my knowledge the only Sabal Lisas proven to exist are all palmettos.

[Missi]

On 9/7/2021 at 9:08 PM, Keys6505 said:

I have a Lisa from @FishEyeAquaculture, I wonder if these are his seed source as well?  Not trying to out anyone, just wondering if I'm looking at the parents of mine!

 

On 9/7/2021 at 9:28 PM, FishEyeAquaculture said:

@Keys6505, all the Lisa’s that I’ve recently parted with, came from @PalmatierMeg when they were just one or two leaf seedlings

My two from @FishEyeAquaculture in ground are doing FABULOUS!! I can't believe I took so long to plant some Lisas!!  I planted them at the very front of my property for folks driving by to enjoy as well! They are somewhat near some normal S. palmetto so the contrast will be quite noticeable.