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cas, and were unknown to any part of the Old World. They 

 were distributed naturally from the Bermuda Islands and the 

 South Atlantic and Gulf States of North America through the 

 West Indies to Venezuela and Mexico. It is of interest to know 

 that the Cabbage Palmetto is the northernmost species of all the 

 palms. The Sabals are now planted as ornamentals throughout 

 many tropic and sub-tropic countries. Several kinds have been 

 planted in Honolulu, and though not rare, they are by no means 

 as common as some of the other palms. 



The palmettos that are chiefly used for ornamental plantings 

 are, — the Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal Adansoiii), S. mauritiaeforme ; 

 the Cabbage Palmetto (S. Palmetto) ; Blackburn's Palmetto (S 

 Blackhurnianum) ; the Mexican Palmetto {S. Mc.ricaiium). The 

 second and third of these have been most commonly planted in 

 the Honolulu region. These five species may be distinguished 

 by means of the following key, which has been adapted from 

 Bailey's Cyclopedia of American Horticulture, — 



A. Leaf-blade longer than petiole. 



B. Trunk none, the rosette of leaves springing directly 



from the ground S. Adansoni. 



BB. Trunk of considerable heighth. finally attaining 60 



feet S. inauritiafonne 



AA. Leaf-blade shorter than petiole. 



B. Leaf-blade heart-shaped in outline 6". Palmetto 



BB. Leaf-blade orbicular in outline. 



C. Divisions of leaf rather rigid. S. Blackbiiniiaiiitiii 

 CC. Divisions of leaf pendant .S\ Mcxicannni 



The notes that follow relate chiefly to the Cabbage Palmetto, 

 but in many respects apply to the palmettos in general. 



As was indicated in the discussion of the name "palmetto," 

 there are two distinct types of Sabal, — (1) small, "stemless" 

 species whose short trunks are buried in the ground; (2) species 

 with stout, columnar trunks. The kinds planted in Honolulu be- 

 long largely to this latter class. The stem is covered with a red- 

 dish-brown rind, but this usually entirely hidden by the peculiar 

 and characteristic arrangement of petioles. 



The leaves of the petioles, like those of the majority of palms, 

 are tough and leathery, and their stalks or petioles are propor- 

 tionately hard and woody. These tough petioles are persistent — 

 that is, they do not drop from the trunk as do those, for example, 

 of the Royal Palm. The leaves of the Royal Palm, when they 

 have attained maturity, fall ofif entirely, leaving a smooth, ring- 

 like scar. The leaves of the palmettos, like those of the date 

 palm, persist for a long time. Finally the dead and withered 

 leaf-blade drops away, leaving the petiole attached to the stem. 

 The broad, concave bases of the petioles are gradually split open 

 by the steady enlargement of the growing stem. This causes a 



