Abstract
Every state in the Union has a state seal and a state tree despite neither the United States Constitution nor the U.S. Congress mandating the official designation of either. Nevertheless, these seals and trees and the process by which they are adopted and modified can illuminate the political personalities and historical peregrinations of a state. The cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) did not officially make it onto Florida's State Seal until after Woodstock and the first manned lunar landing. The saga of Florida's State Seal and tree contains intriguing tidbits oflore. Who knew that a study of Florida's State Seal would reveal debates about hemlines, arguments about plant species, and the brother of the Secretary of State? And who expected Michael Jackson, timber interests, garden clubs, the General Assembly of South Carolina, and even a bottle of Wite-Out to make appearances?
Recommended Citation
Miller, Jonathan (Jono)
(2017)
"Cocoa and Cabbage: Two Palms Vie to Officially Represent the State of Florida,"
Florida Historical Quarterly: Vol. 96:
No.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fhq/vol96/iss1/3
