Description

• Sabal mexicana, commonly known as Mexican palmetto or Mexican fan palm, is a large, evergreen palm in the family Arecaceae.

• It has a solitary, stout trunk that can grow to considerable heights, topped by a broad crown of large, fan-shaped leaves.

• The leaves are palmate, with numerous stiff segments radiating from a central point and long leaf stalks.

• Small, creamy-white flowers grow in large, branched clusters that extend beyond the crown of leaves.

• The fruits are small, rounded, dark brown to black when ripe, and contain a single seed.

• The palm provides food and shelter for birds and other wildlife, and its leaves have traditionally been used for thatching and weaving.

Range

• Native to Mexico and southern Texas, with its main distribution in eastern and northeastern Mexico.

• It is cultivated as an ornamental palm in many warm regions.

• It is not generally considered native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero; a local occurrence may represent a cultivated or introduced plant rather than a naturally occurring population.

Habitat

• Naturally grows in seasonally wet grasslands, river valleys, floodplains, and open woodland.

• Often occurs in areas with periodic flooding or access to groundwater, although established palms can tolerate seasonal dryness.

• Prefers warm climates and full sun, and can grow in a range of soils where drainage and moisture conditions are suitable.