Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, October 17, 2010

This was visit to the barrier island part of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, accessed by Jungle Trail off A1A, just south of Sebastian Inlet. There's a boardwalk leading to a deck overlooking Pelican Island, which is in the Indian River Lagoon. This particular visit was limited to the weedy areas west of the parking lot and north of the boardwalk. Ended up with lots of sandspurs and beggarticks in my socks. I photographed five members of the Fabaceae family, including one new find: Danglepod. This area is in Indian River County, just across the southern border of Brevard County.

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Danglepod (Sesbania herbacea, Fabaceae)

Native

Found a large stand of this unusual member of the pea family. Peak blooming had past--only a few blossoms remained on the plants (lower right photo). Tall, purple stalks bore lots of long, dangling beans.

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Spurred butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum, Fabaceae)

Native

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Hairypod cowpea (Vigna luteola, Fabaceae)

Native

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Wild bushbean (Macroptilium lathyroides, Fabaceae)

Not native

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Trailing indigo (Indigofera spicata, Fabaceae)

Not native

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Walter's groundcherry (Physalis walteri, Solanaceae)

Native

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Mexican clover (Richardia grandiflora, Rubiaceae)

Not native

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