Search / Plant Profile / Sabal causiarum

Plant Profile

Puerto Rican Hat-palm (Sabal causiarum)

This is a full shot of this tall (up to 60 feet) palm tree, also known as the Puerto Rican hat palm. Photo Credit: Jennifer Possley

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Arecaceae
State: PR, VI
Nature Serve ID: 139653
Lifeform: Tree
Categories of Interest: Palms
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/08/1989

Description:

Sabal causiarum, or hat palm, is endemic to southwestern Puerto Rico. This species was once widespread on the island, and was often used to make hats and baskets (Tucker 1927). This palm can be distinguished from other palms because it grows up to 50 feet in height, rising from a massive, smooth gray trunk, which itself can grow up to four feet in diameter. This palm is a slow growing tree, likely made slower by the harvesting of its palms for use as hats and baskets (Tucker 1927, Floridata 2001).

Where is Puerto Rican Hat-palm (Sabal causiarum) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Found on hillside or ridges in dry forest flatlands behind beaches. The species is fairly tolerant of wind.

Distribution:

Tucker (1927) states that this species is endemic to Puerto Rico, but other sources say it is found in the Virgin Islands, as well. (Kraus 1992)

States & Provinces:

Puerto Rican Hat-palm can be found in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands

Which CPC Partners conserve Puerto Rican Hat-palm (Sabal causiarum)?

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

The Huntington

Not Sponsored

Assigned 10/30/23

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

05/11/2023

According to a March 2023 extract of the Florida Plant Rescue Database, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden holds 1 accessions of Sabal causiarum totalling approximately 275 seeds representing 1 maternal lines.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Native only in Puerto Rico. Found on coastal plains of northern, western, and southwestern Puerto Rico.

01/01/2010

Threats include: Commercial collecting (especially large specimens) as this is a very popular horticultural item road construction feral sheep (Guana) sheep and goats (Anegada)

01/01/2010

Thousands of trees are now found in 3 sites in Puerto Rico, 12-15 individuals on St. Thomas, 116 individuals on Guana Islands, British Virgin Islands (106 occur in 1 population and 14 individuals which occur on the southwest part of Anegada Island).

01/01/2010

None known.

01/01/2010

None known.