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, 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.
Plants of The Florida Scrub 
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, 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. 
