Death of a state icon?

Scientists in this little corner of heaven are stumped.

From the University of Florida to the state's Division of Plant Industry, no one can figure out what is killing the Sabal Palms.

The tree is an official symbol not only of the Sunshine State. It appears both on our flag and on that of South Carolina.

And, some insects are killing them with some microscopic phytoplamsic disease that the eggheads can't as yet identify . . . much less cure.

The disease is often misdiagnosed as malnutrition or excessive trimming, but is much more dangerous than those two reversible maladies.

So far, the worst of this is confined down in the Tampa Bay region.

Let's hope a cure may be found before it spreads to other areas, lest they disappear from our landscape altogether and leave the terrain looking like . . . dare I say it . . . Georgia!

Perish the thought!

Let "Save the Sabal Palm" be our cry!