The number of palm trees in Florida is decreasing by kristina leskova

Florida is an American State known as a sunshine State. It is known also for its weather which is mostly sunny with long and hot summers. It is just a paradise for those people who like sunny weather and sand beaches. Florida is also a palm paradise for the visitors. The most important factor for a healthy palm tree is good soil. The type of soil determines how much nutrients and water the plant receives. Florida state´s palm is sabal palm also known as the cabbage palm. Officially this palm became a tree of the Florida State in 1953. This palm is versatile and can adapt to variety of sun and soil conditions. Usually it does not grow indoors. Sabal palm can grow up to 15 meters. The name “cabbage” palm came from the early pioneers, who harvested the bud, called the “heart”, for food that they cooked and ate like cabbage. The Cabbage Palm is one of the most durable of the 15 Sabal species.
But an unknown disease is killing these beautiful palm trees. The scientists are trying to identify the killer of the palms, but they do not know which insect spreads the disease. They said that the situation will be worse, because it is difficult to stop dying of palm trees. The scientists expect that the number of palm trees will decrease. They know it is a phytoplasma disease; it means the canker is very small bacterium. This bacterium is spread by the plant´s phloem. It is hard to save the palm trees because the scientists do not have enough money for the curative process.


related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080723/ap_on_sc/dying_palms;_ylt=AiImUMHE1dk9TFWVY4QUOKes0NUE

by kristina leskova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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posted by Lucia Adamova