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Saw
Palmetto
- Traditional Tonic of the
Southeast
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa serrulata), is a small palm that grows throughout southeastern parts of North America. The large fan-shaped leaves on prostrate stems conceal the clusters of fleshy berries that ripen in the fall. These fruits are prized by people as well as wildlife, and the thick protective cover found in native stands of saw palmetto are full of birds, animals, and reptiles. The thickets are a particularly important habitat for the endangered Florida panther and the threatened Florida black bears, who often raise their young on the nutritious fruits. Native Americans have been using saw palmettos for a wide range of purposes. Called "siyaphíntá:li" by the Miccosukee, the leaves and leaf petioles are used to weave baskets and make ceremonial dance and fire fans. Young leaves woven around small pebbles became rattles for babies, and the leaf fibers are used to make traditional Seminole dolls. The fruits have been harvested for centuries. They are eaten as a fresh fruit, or mashed and mixed with sugar to make a drink called "shiope sofkee". The heartwood of the palms have been used for traditional medicinal purposes as well as pounded into flour. The Choctaw Indians of the Mississippi area also use saw palmetto in their basketry, calling the plant "tala". The roots of closely related species of palms were used by the Mayas for occasional diarrhea and abdominal pains. |
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