Sabal minor
Zwergpalmettopalme ( Sabal minor)
The Zwergpalmettopalme ( Sabal minor ) is a dwarf palm species whose natural range is located in the southeastern United States. It extends from east Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, the North and West Florida, Georgia to the coastal regions of South and North Carolina. It is very common.
Features
The Zwergpalmettopalme usually has only one underground stem so that the leaves sit directly on the ground. They rarely forms a short erect stem that can reach up to a height of two meters. Her crown is only from four to ten fan-shaped leaves that are dark green to blue-green and have no hanging threads. In the summer more slender inflorescences are formed which consist of hermaphrodite, white, fragrant flowers. The fruits of Zwergpalmettopalme are round, black and have a diameter of 7 to 10 mm.
Habitat
The Zwergpalmettopalme mainly grows as undergrowth in deciduous hardwood forests. She prefers moist and humus-rich soils. In the Texas hill country it also grows on dry limestone soils at altitudes of 600 meters. In the north- west of its range its leaves in the winter freeze and the palm tree leafs in spring again.
Use
The Zwergpalmettopalme is considered very hardy with a cold resistance down to -20 ° C. The leaves of the Zwergpalmettopalmen were used by the Indians of southeastern North America especially for roofs or baskets, hats or ropes from the leaf fibers were prepared. Today they are mainly used as garden plants.