547.000 Sabal Adans.

Palms, solitary, dwarf, moderate or tall; usually robust; stems aerial or sub-terranean, covered with leaf bases or clean; becoming striate or smooth with age. Leaves few to many; petiole split at base; unarmed; adaxial fistula well developed; costa present; lamina weakly to strongly costapalmate; plication induplicate; segments often bear threadlike fibres between segments. Inflorescence axillary within crown of leaves; paniculate, erect or arching beyond the leaves, branched to 2 or 3 orders; bracts 2-5, peduncular, inconspicuous; flowers sessile borne singly along the rachillae. Flowers creamy white, fragrant; petals 3, imbricate, alternate with outer whorl of stamens. Fruit drupes, berry-like. Seeds 1-3, glossy.

Worldwide: 16 in the Americas and W Indies.

Zimbabwe: 6 cultivated taxa.