Saw Palmetto is a slow-growing, clumping palm that dominates vast stretches of the southeastern coastal plain. Its leaf stems are lined with sharp, saw-toothed spines that can cut through clothing and skin — giving it its common name. It is one of the most fire-adapted plants in Florida scrub, regenerating vigorously from underground stems after burns. The berries are a critical mast crop for black bears, deer, and many bird species.
Habitat
Pine flatwoods, scrub, coastal dunes, and dry hammocks across the Southeast.
Diet
Fruits consumed heavily by black bears, white-tailed deer, raccoons, and scrub-jays; flowers attract bees and beetles.
How common
Common
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