saw palmetto

Meaning

Noun

• A sprawling-stemmed spiny-leaved dwarf palm (Serenoa repens (species)) forming large colonies, especially by sprouting, native to Florida and the coastal plains of other southeastern states of the United States.
• A similar plant (Chamaerops humilis (species)), native to Europe and north Africa

Origin

• The edges of the leaflets of this palm have strong spines, like a saw.