Lovely sunset tonight. The Cabbage Palmetto, (Arecaceae Sabal palmetto,) was adopted as the "Official State Tree of the State of South Carolina" by Joint Resolution No. 63, approved March 17, 1939. The Palmetto was symbolical of the defeat of the British fleet at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. The fort was built of Palmetto logs, which absorbed the impact of the cannon balls. Citation: eReferenceDesk website