Although palm-like in appearance, this is a cycad, a primitive group of non-flowering plants. It is listed as commercially exploited by the state of F , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Grows slowly. Seeds, foliage, and roots are toxic. , Habitat, Upland hardwood forests, high pine, coastal hammocks, shell middens. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval host for the rare atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala florida) which is restricted to South Florida and the echo moth (Sierarct

The natural range in Florida appears to include the entire mainland and exclude the Florida keys.  Herbarium specimen in the Florida Keys was in a man , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Ducks love the plants and a risk is that they might devour an entire planting. , Habitat, Marshes, swamps, slow moving streams. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Attracts butterflies and bees. Documented bee visitors include  Hylaeus schwarzi, Dianthidiuin floridiense, Cerati