saw palmetto

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• saw-palmetto
• scrub-palmetto
• saw palmetto

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Brahea serrulata
• Diglossophyllum serrulatum
• Corypha repens
• Serenoa repens f. glauca
• Corypha obliqua
• Serenoa serrulata
• Sabal serrulata
• Chamaerops serrulata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Serenoa repens, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Arecales and the family Arecaceae. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its placement within the genus Serenoa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the Southeastern United States. Its natural range includes the state of Alabama, where it grows in specific local habitats. It is also widely distributed across the landscape of Florida. Furthermore, populations of this species can be located within Georgia. Finally, its geographical presence extends into the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Serenoa repens is characterized by its preference for canopy environments, where it integrates into the stratified layers of its native forest ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying diverse topographical niches from sea level up to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL. Within these habitats, the plant employs biological defense mechanisms to ensure its survival against herbivory and environmental stressors.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

canopy

Life history

The life history of Serenoa repens is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain its presence within its ecosystem over long durations. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate during unfavorable environmental conditions.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Serenoa repens is characterized by a woody growth form that manifests as both a shrub and a tree. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, functioning as a non-parasitic species. The plant exhibits a variety of shoot orientations, including erect, prostrate, scandent, rambling, pendant, and ascending patterns. As a climber, it is described as self-supporting, occupying the roles of a liana or vine. The plant reaches an average height of approximately 4.555 m, though shoot lengths can extend to a maximum of 750 cm.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4.555 m

Shoot length max:

750 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Serenoa repens is characterized by distinct morphological and metabolic adaptations suited to its environment. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for carbon fixation in many temperate and subtropical species, which dictates its gas exchange and energy production processes. Structurally, the plant exhibits significant vegetative development, with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 150 cm. Furthermore, the plant possesses defensive physiological structures in the form of leaf spines, which serve as a mechanical deterrent against herbivory.

Leaf length max:

150 cm

Leaf spines :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Serenoa repens is characterized by the development of fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes. These fruits are distinguished by a black coloration and vary in size, with a mean length of 2.12 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.6 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm) and a mean width of 1.69 cm (ranging from 1.2 cm to 1.9 cm). The seeds contained within these drupes exhibit a consistent seed volume of 470 mm³ and a mean seed mass of approximately 0.355 g, although specific recorded values for mass range up to 0.4196 g. Following maturation, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the spread of its seeds throughout its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.12 cm

Fruit length min:

1.6 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

1.9 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.69 cm

Fruit width min:

1.2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.4196 g

Seed mass mean:

0.355333333333333 g

Seed volume max:

470 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Serenoa repens has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products
2. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
3. Planta medica
4. Journal of environmental management

Chemicals

Serenoa repens has 108 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, 1-Monolaurin, 1-Monomyristin, Fatty acids, SELENIUM.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Prostate
3. World journal of urology

1-Monolaurin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

1-Monomyristin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

Fatty acids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of environmental management

SELENIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica

ZINC

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica

lauric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

-carotene

1. Dr. Duke

1-Octacosanol

1. Dr. Duke

Acetosyringone

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Serenoa repens has 541 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Serenoa repens has 17 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include benign prostatic hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hypertrophy, nocturia, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

1. The Annals of pharmacotherapy
2. Pediatrics
3. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
4. Annals of internal medicine
5. Drugs & aging

Lower urinary tract symptoms

1. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
2. The Prostate
3. World journal of urology
4. Public health nutrition

Benign prostatic hypertrophy

1. Pharmacological research
2. Clinical therapeutics

Nocturia

1. Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica
2. Public health nutrition

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hirsutism

1. International journal of preventive medicine

Prostate cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Acute pancreatitis

1. Southern medical journal

Androgenetic alopecia

1. Journal of cosmetic dermatology

Hair loss

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Preparations

Serenoa repens has 10 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, Extracts, Serenoa repens extract (Permixon), extracts, extracts of saw palmetto fruit.

Extract

1. Orvosi hetilap
2. American journal of veterinary research

Extracts

1. Pediatrics

Serenoa repens extract (permixon)

1. Pharmacological research

Extracts

1. World journal of urology

Extracts of saw palmetto fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Herbal extracts

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Hydrodistillate

1. Planta medica

Lipidosterolic extract of serenoa repens (lsesr)

1. Pharmacological research

Lyposterolic extract

1. Clinical therapeutics

Steam distillation from the fruits

1. Planta medica