Scrub palm (sometimes called scrub palmetto) occurs only in scrubs in central Florida. Scrub palm is in the same genus as the majestic sabal or cabbage palm, Florida's state tree. But unlike the sabal palm, scrub palm is a low-growing shrub whose trunk remains below ground, safe from scrub's recurrent fires. Scrub palm looks a lot like saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), the other common palm in Florida scrub, but can be distinguished by the leaves, which are costapalmate as opposed to palmate. That is, in scrub palm the petiole (leaf stem) continues a short distance into the frond as a midrib. In saw palmetto, which has true palmate leaves, the petiole terminates at the base of the frond. Several kinds of lizards and snakes find refuge in the sand under the dead, brown leaves of scrub palm and saw palmetto.
Scrub palm (sometimes called scrub palmetto) occurs only in scrubs in central Florida. Scrub palm is in the same genus as the majestic sabal or cabbage palm, Florida's state tree. But unlike the sabal palm, scrub palm is a low-growing shrub whose trunk remains below ground, safe from scrub's recurrent fires. Scrub palm looks a lot like saw palmetto (
