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Category: Xeric Hammock
Florida Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii)
Educational Story The Florida Tickseed, Coreopsis leavenworthii, is in the genus that includes the Florida state wildflower. Bright yellow flowers bloom year round in sun or shade, often tolerating poor soils. It’s a fast growing perennial that re-seeds itself, making it easy to grow and enjoy. Lady Bird Johnson, first lady to the 36th President…
Goldenrod (Solidago stricta)
Educational Story Slender Goldenrod, Solidago stricta, is one of many species of goldenrod that can be found throughout Florida growing in sandy, well-drained soils. Goldenrod species are perennial herbs in the aster family and have small, bright yellow flowers borne on long flower stalks called a panicle. Slender Goldenrod has small erect leaves that press…
Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris)
Educational Story The Longleaf Pine, Pinus palustris, is native to North America and the southeastern coastal plain, west to Texas and north to Virginia, and was once a dominant species throughout this region. Longleaf pines can live for more than 600 years and have evolved to thrive in fire dependent ecosystems. The Longleaf pine ecosystem…
Lopsided Indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum)
Educational Story Lopsided Indiangrass, Sorghastrum secundum, is a type of bunch grass native to the southeastern United States. It is commonly used in native landscapes and restoration projects. Flower and seed heads produce a showy, one-sided panicle that hangs to one side from a tall stalk when the grass is flowering; thus the name ‘lopsided’….
Pond Cypress (Taxodium ascendens)
Educational Story The Pond Cypress, Taxodium ascendens, is a tree that lives in swampy ground, but can adapt to drier lands. Its seeds need wet soil to germinate. This tree species can be found in depressional areas that hold water, slowly colonizing the middle of the depression and moving outwards. A cypress population in a round…
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa)
Educational Story The Prickly-Pear Cactus, Opuntia humifusa, is also sometimes called Devil’s Tongue, and grows in sunny, well drained soils across Florida. This cactus tends to grow in clumps and has large pads with tufts of spines and brilliant yellow flowers with orange-red centers. Cochineal insects that feed on Opuntia cactus was harvested in Florida in the 1700’s by the…
Reindeer Moss (Cladonia spp.)
Educational Story Reindeer Moss, Cladonia spp., includes several species of lichen that can be found growing on the ground throughout Florida in undisturbed, dry upland habitats. It is typically abundant in areas that have not been exposed to fire for many years. Lichens are not a single species, but are actually a mutualism between a fungus and…
Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto)
Educational Story The Sabal Palm, Sabal palmetto, is the official state tree of Florida and South Carolina. It grows in sandy, well drained soil in part shade. Its singular trunk can reach 30 feet in height. Fan-shaped leaves, palm fronds, grow from the top of the tree from a single apical meristem, which is the…
Sand Live Oak (Quercus geminata)
Educational Story The Sand Live Oak, Quercus geminata, is best know for its grand and majestic form, often clad elegantly Spanish Moss. It is a type of white oak and is part of the Fagaceae family of trees, which also includes beeches and chestnuts. Reaching a height of 50 feet, its branches often spread to…
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Educational Story First described and named by William Bartram on his travels through Florida in the late 1700’s, the Saw Palmetto, Serenoa repens, is a major ground cover shrub occurring in many upland flatwoods ecosystems in Florida. This low-growing, sturdy palm is also used widely as a landscape plant. The thick stalks creep along the…
Shortleaf Rosegentian (Sabatia brevifolia)
Educational Story The Shortleaf Rosegentian, Sabatia brevifolia, has opposite leaves and is a white, 5-petaled flower with a yellow center displaying an intricate, twisted pistil. Bees and butterflies can be found visiting the plant during the flowering season. It is one of the more showy of the white Florida native wild flowers, and it can…
Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides)
Educational Story Spanish Moss, Tillandsia usneoides, is most often seen hanging gracefully from Live Oak branches. Its subtle blue-green strands swaying in the breeze are characteristic of many distinctive southern landscapes. Not requiring soil, it collects its nutrients from the air and rain water. The plant forms one or more slender stems that bear thin, alternate, curved…
Wiregrass (Aristida stricta)
Educational Story Wiregrass, Aristida stricta, is an extremely important understory groundcover in flatwoods and sandhill ecosystems throughout the southeastern coastal plain. It is also sometimes referred to as Pineland threeawn. This narrow leafed wiry grass grows in clumps and can reach heights of up to 2 feet. Flowering stalks may be up to 3 feet, Wiregrass…
Experience the Longleaf Pine Forest in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
The longleaf pine ecosystem is a diverse fire climax conifer pine dominate habitat.