Overview

The natural and cultural history of an iconic plant The palmetto, also known as the cabbage palm or Sabal palmetto, is an iconic part of the southeastern American landscape and the state tree of Florida and South Carolina. In The Palmetto Book, Jono Miller offers surprising facts and dispels common myths about an important native plant that remains largely misunderstood.Miller answers basic questions such as: Are palms trees? Where did they grow historically? When should palmettos be pruned? What is swamp cabbage and how do you prepare it? Did Winslow Homer's watercolors of palmettos inadvertently document rising sea level? How can these plants be both flammable and fireproof? Based on historical research, Miller argues that cabbage palms can live for more than two centuries. The palmettos that were used to build Fort Moultrie at the start of the Revolutionary War thwarted a British attack on Charleston—and ended up on South Carolina's flag. Delving into biology, Miller describes the anatomy of palm fronds and their crisscrossed leaf bases, called bootjacks. He traces the underground ""saxophone"" structure of the young plant's root system. He explores the importance of palmettos for many wildlife species, including Florida Scrub-Jays and honey bees. Miller also documents how palmettos can pose problems for native habitats, citrus groves, and home landscapes. From Low Country sweetgrass baskets to Seminole chickees and an Elvis Presley movie set, the story of the cabbage palm touches on numerous dimensions of the natural and cultural history of the Southeast. Exploring both the past and present of this distinctive species, The Palmetto Book is a fascinating and enlightening journey.

Full Product Details

9780813080215

Table of Contents

Reviews

Brings the author's curiosity and natural history knowledge vividly to the reader. --Choice A love letter to the cabbage palm. --Sarasota Magazine With a droll wit, Miller takes on the raging debate over the palmetto's classification, longevity and desirability. . . . Miller takes us on field trips from Key West to the Panhandle and up the Atlantic coast onto Virginia in search of cabbage palms. --The Gabber

Author Information

Jono Miller is a natural historian, educator, and activist who has worked to understand and protect wild places in Southwest Florida for 50 years. He is former director of the Environmental Studies Program at New College of Florida.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available