| Saw palmetto | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Coryphoideae |
| Tribe: | Trachycarpeae |
| Genus: | Serenoa Hook.f. |
| Species: | S. repens |
| Binomial name | |
| Serenoa repens | |
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| Natural range | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
Synonymy
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Serenoa repens, commonly known assaw palmetto, is a smallpalm, growing to a maximum height around 200–300 cm (6.6–9.8 ft).
It is thesole species in the genusSerenoa. The genus name honors AmericanbotanistSereno Watson.[citation needed]
It isendemic to the subtropical and tropicalSoutheastern United States as well as Mexico,[4] most commonly along the southAtlantic andGulf Coastal plains and sand hills. It grows in clumps or dense thickets in sandy coastal areas, and as undergrowth inpine woods orhardwoodhammocks.[5]
Erect stems or trunks are rarely produced, but are found in some populations. It is a hardy plant; extremely slow-growing, and long-lived, with some plants (especially in Florida) possibly being as old as 500–700 years.[6]
Saw palmetto is a fan palm, with theleaves that have a barepetiole terminating in a rounded fan of about 20leaflets. The petiole is armed with fine, sharp teeth or spines that give the species its common name. The teeth or spines are easily capable of breaking the skin, and protection should be worn when working around a saw palmetto. The leaves are light green inland, and silvery-white in coastal regions. The leaves are 1–2 m in length, the leaflets 50–100 cm long. They are similar to the leaves of the palmettos of genusSabal. Theflowers are yellowish-white, about 5 mm across, produced in dense compoundpanicles up to 60 cm long.[citation needed]
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Thefruit is a large reddish-blackdrupe and is an important food source for wildlife and historically for humans. The plant is used as a food plant by thelarvae of someLepidoptera species such asBatrachedra decoctor, which feeds on the plant, including the interior of the inflorescence.[7]: 628–631
Saw palmettoextract has been studied as a possible treatment for people withprostate cancer and for men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated withbenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).[5][8][9] As of 2023, there is noscientific evidence that saw palmetto extract is effective for treating cancer or BPH and its symptoms.[8][9][10]
One 2016 review of clinical studies with astandardized extract of saw palmetto (calledPermixon) found that the extract was safe and may be effective for relieving BPH-induced urinary symptoms compared against aplacebo.[11]
Indigenous names are reported to include:tala ortalimushi ("palmetto's uncle") inChoctaw;cani (Timucua);ta ́:la (Koasati);taalachoba ("big palm",Alabama);ta:laɬ a ́ kko ("big palm",Creek);talco ́:bˆı ("big palm",Mikasuki); andguana (Taíno, possibly).[12] Saw palmetto fibers have been found among materials from indigenous people as far north asWisconsin and New York, strongly suggesting this material was widely traded prior to European contact.[13] The leaves are used for thatching by several indigenous groups, so commonly that a location inAlachua County, Florida, is named Kanapaha ("palm house").[14] The fruit may have been used to treat an unclear form of fish poisoning by theSeminoles andLucayans.[15]
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