Malabar Scrub Sanctuary, May 31, 2010

Most of these wildflowers were found in the dry part of the scrub. Others were found in the moist to wet ditches that run both sides of the road through the sanctuary.

Go to SpaceCoastEco for more information on the Malabar Scrub Sanctuary: directions, parking, what to do, where to eat, etc.

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Bulltongue arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia, Alismataceae)

Native; wet areas; southern US

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Virginia buttonweed (Diodia virginiana, Rubiaceae)

Native; wet areas; south and eastern US

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Creeping oxeye (Sphagneticola trilobata, Asteraceae)
Non-native; moist soils; mostly peninsula Florida plus Louisiana, Hawaii, & Puerto Rico

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Mock bishopsweed (Ptilimnium capillaceum, Apiaceae)

Native; wet areas; most of south and east US

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Florida tickseed (Coreopsis floridana, Asteraceae)
Native; Florida endemic; moist soils.
The Florida State Wildflower is the genus Coreopsis.

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American bluehearts (Buchnera americana, Orobanchaceae)

Native; moist soils; eastern US

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Yelloweyed grass (Xyris spp., Xyridaceae)
Native; moist soils.
There are several Xyris species with yellow flowers. The most widespread is Elliot's yelloweyed grass, which this one might be.

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Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites, Ericaceae)
Native; dry soils; Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina

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Blackroot (Pterocaulon pycnostachyum, Asteraceae)

Native; dry soils; southeast US.

Growing up in North Florida, we called this plant "rabbit tobacco." Supposedly, its leaves could be smoked, but I never tried it!

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Fourpetal St.John's-wort (Hypericum tetrapetalum, Clusiaceae)

Native; dry soils; Florida and a few southern and eastern counties of Georgia.

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Gopher apple (Licania michauxii, Chrysobalanaceae)

Native; dry, sandy soils; southeast US.

Spreads by underground runners. Ovoid fleshy fruit is eaten by gopher tortoises and other wildlife. Edible by humans, but nearly tasteless.

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Tarflower (Barjeria racemosa, Ericaceae)

Native; dry, sandy soils of pine flatwoods and scrub; peninsula Florida, parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina.

The sticky flower petals trap flies and other insects. It seems the stickiness is a defense against non-pollinating, nectar-stealing insects, rather than a means of getting supplemental food. The interior of the flower is not sticky, allowing bees and other pollinators to reach the nectar.

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Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius, Rosaceae)

Native; dry, sandy soils; eastern US.

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Rusty staggerbush (Lyonia ferruginea, Ericaceae)

Native; dry, sandy soils; Florida, Georgia, South Carolina.

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Rosy camphorweed (Pluchea baccharis, Asteraceae)

Native; moist soils; southern US.

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Nuttall's thistle (Cirsium nuttallii, Asteraceae)
Native; dry areas, roadsides, fields; southern US.
(with an unidentified metallic green beetle)

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Baldwin's eryngo (Eryngium baldwinii, Apiaceae)

Native; moist soils; most of Florida and a few counties in southern Georgia.

Also known as matted button snakeroot, this plant can be found in grassy areas. The flower head is very tiny, about 1/4-in.

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