Flora of the Southeastern United States

Serenoa repens (Bartram) Small. Common name: Saw Palmetto. Phenology: May-Jul; Oct-Nov. Habitat: Pine flatwoods, maritime forests, dunes, pine rocklands, and Florida dry prairie, xeric longleaf pine sandhills, scrubby pine flatwoods, and Florida scrub. Also used horticulturally, especially the gray (blue) forms. Distribution: Se. SC (in maritime forests in Charleston and Colleton counties, and in spodosolic flatwoods in Beaufort and Jasper counties) south to s. FL and west to e. LA.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: The species has variation in leaf color caused by differences in epicuticular waxiness, with green and gray (blue) forms. The gray forms are often found on coastal dunes. Plants with upright trunks were the basis for Serenoa arborescens, which seems to be only an atypical growth form not warranting taxonomic recognition.

Other Comments: Serenoa forms extensive clonal patches, connected by underground rhizomes, and is a dominant plant in many parts of FL, in pine flatwoods, sandhills, or scrub. It is geoxylic, and resprouts rapidly after fire. The fruit are purported to promote human prostate health.

Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA22, GW1, RAB, S, WH3, Zona (1997); > Serenoa arborescens Sarg. — S13; > Serenoa serrulata (Michx.) Hook.f. — S13; Corypha repens W. Bartram. Basionym: Corypha repens W.Bartram 1791

Links to other floras: = Serenoa repens - FNA22

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 7