The Coontie Palm (contrary to the name) is a shrub-like plant known as a cycad that is popular in the southeast United States (Florida and Georgia) and other countries such as the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba. A cycad is an ancient seed plant (a plant that produces seeds) that is often stout and has a woody trunk with a crown that has hard, stiff, evergreen leaves. The Coontie is Florida’s only native cycad. The Coontie is very resilient, perfect for dry areas, cold tolerant, and is not particular when it comes to light as some other plants are which makes it perfect for here in south Florida. It is also tolerant of salt spray and drought and is resistant to most diseases and pests. Coontie populations in the wild declined drastically due to overharvesting which also affected the population of Atala butterflies. It is illegal in Florida to collect endangered Coontie from the wild. However, commercially propagated Coontie are available at native garden centers for purchase.
Plant Use
Historically this plant has been used as a food source by indigenous tribes in the Caribbean and in Florida, such as the Calusa, the Tequesta, and more recently the Seminoles. The plant itself is poisonous, so tribes learned how to properly prepare the root so it would not be toxic to humans. The roots would be ground down and then processed through water to turn it into flour that would be used to make bread and other types of food. Seminole Indians would also use the stems of this plant to make a strong cordage they would use to weave baskets. More recently, this plant has been used for more ornamental purposes in landscaping. This plant has also been used as a source of starch commercially. This practice is not widespread but is still in use today.
Symbiotic Relationships
While this cycad looks beautiful, it can be toxic when ingested or absorbed into the skin. All parts of the Coontie plant are toxic, especially the seeds. Organisms that rely on the Coontie have become adapted to the toxin and are not affected by it. The Atala butterfly has a mutually beneficial relationship with the Coontie. The larvae (caterpillars) of this butterfly feed on the leaves of the Coontie and not only survive ingesting the toxins, but the toxin also makes their own bodies toxic to many predators. This toxicity warning is displayed by their bright coloration in both larval and adult life stages. In return, the waste of the Atala butterfly helps fertilize the soil for the palm. Another example of these symbiotic relationships is the bacteria that live within the root of the Coontie. The bacteria absorb nitrogen out of the air and soil and transform it into a nutrient the plant can use.