Cabbage Palm

The Sabal Palmetto is found in subtropical terrains such as the gulf coast and the south Atlantic coast of the United States. The Cabbage Palm can also withstand substantial amounts of rain which is why they thrive in Florida and other subtropical environments. The Cabbage Palm is also very important to wildlife because it provides shelter and food. The Cabbage Palm produces large amounts of fruit that are vital to the life of some native species, including bears, deer, raccoon, and more. The Florida burrowing owl is one of the many species that use the Cabbage Palm as a habitat. The Cabbage Palm is also very important to humans because we can eat the terminal bud that the palm produces. We can also eat the hearts of cabbage palm. Although these vegetables aren't usually sold in stores, the Seminole Indians relied on Cabbage Palms for food. The Cabbage Palms trunk can also be used for roofing, and other parts of the tree can be used to build different pieces of furniture. Cabbage palm berries and seeds were also used in the treatment of headaches and fevers by native Americans in the southeast. Some other ecological niches that the Cabbage Palm has is that they are extremely resistant to fires, hurricanes, cold temperatures, and high wind. This is important because in different severe weather conditions they are not in danger of destroying surrounding species by dying and help the ecosystem stay in tact. A fun fact about the Cabbage Palm is that it is the state tree of Florida and South Carolina.