Coontie Palm

The first I knew of this plant was when Jacob and Shonene planted it in our lanai. Since it has some similar characteristics as a sago palm, I was not surprised to hear how ancient this form of life was.

It is a host to a caterpillar of the rare atoll butterfly (which I know nothing about yet). I do know that people who visit the park LOVE butterflies and plants that host them.

Interesting Facts:
Native Americans called it "kunti." They used the underground stems to form flour, but they had to wash out a toxic substance in the process.

This process was passed to Europeans in the late 1800's, and Miami was home to mills that created the starch, called "Florida arrowroot." Florida arrowroot had military use in World War I.

Florida now designates coontie palm as "commercially exploited." You must have a permit to collect it from the wild.

Coontie palm is dioecious, which means each one is either MALE or FEMALE. The cones produced are either male or female, which you cannot tell until the plant matures!

Male cones are 3-7in tall and produce pollen.

Female cones are 6in and covered in a velvety fuzz. At maturity, these crumble and leave orange-red waxy seeds.

 References:  Florida Department of Agriculture.

University of Florida Fact Sheet.