Sabal palm, palmetto palm
Sabal palmetto, Fam. Arecaceae
Solitary palm, 6-25m tall, large domed crown, trunk 30-45cm diameter patterned with old leaf bases that appear criss-crossed. Previously Corypha palmetto.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Palm or palm-like plant |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Whorled Simple, twisted, spirally arranged, fan-like with long stalk and deeply segmented green to blue-green blade to 2m long. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White, Cream |
| Flower description: | Numerous small white or cream, borne on many branched sprays as long as the leaves. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Black |
| Fruit: | Fleshy |
| Fruit description: | Round shiny fleshy black berries, 1.2mm in diameter, contain one small round and slightly flattened seed. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | South east America |
| Notes: | Spread by: birds, bats, garden waste, water. Invades/threats: coastal dunes, Melaleuca forest, wetland areas. Notes: garden escapee. An extensive naturalised population at Seaforth has virtually ‘taken-over’ the understorey of Melaleuca leucadendra wetland where waterlilies were once common in open areas. Plants flower and fruit when quite young and seeds germinate readily. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
