South Satellite Beach, February 7, 2011

I cycled from my house to the Satellite Beach Library and then to DeSoto Parkway, looking for early spring wildflowers and interesting weeds. A particular objective was to photograph the bay lobelia that was just now appearing in the DeSoto Parkway median.

________________________________________

Oriental false hawksbeard (Youngia japonica, Astereaceae)
Not native

Disturbed sites; throughout the south. This one was in my front yard.

________________________________________

Unidentified

This appears to be a species of aster, maybe of the genus Symphyotrichum. I found a few of the plants at the west end of Satellite Ave, near the path to the library. They were 6-10 in. tall, only one or few flowers per plant.

________________________________________

Coastalplain goldenaster (Chryopsis scabrella, Asteraceae)

Native

Near south entrance road to the Satellite Beach library. Repeated mowing has forced the plants into a prostrate form. The upper-right photo shows a prostrate stem.

________________________________________

Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana, Cupressaceae)
Native

A cedar tree grows near the west end of Satellite Ave. The ground beneath the tree is covered in blue "berries." Although actually a juniper, this tree is commonly called a cedar; it is the source of the red cedar widely used in cedar drawers. The juniper berries from a related species, J. communis, are used to give gin its distinguishing flavor.

________________________________________

Black medic (Medicago lupulina, Fabaceae)

Not native

Disturbed sites; widespread. One of the earliest weeds to appear in the spring. This one was near the south entrance road to the library.

________________________________________

Florida tasselflower (Emilia fosbergii, Asteraceae)

Not native

Disturbed sites. These were near the south entrance road to library.

________________________________________

Gulf fritillary

This butterfly was flitting amongst goldenaster blossoms.

________________________________________

East coast dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis, Asteraceae)
Native

A common wildflower in this area.

________________________________________

Largeflower Mexican clover (Richardia grandiflora, Rubiaceae)
Not native

Disturbed sites, along roadways, sidewalks

________________________________________

Virginia pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum, Brassicaceae)
Native

The seed capsules have a hot taste, similar to horseradish. Disturbed sites, along roadways, sidewalks.

________________________________________

Tricolor heron

Fishing at the pond next to the Satellite Beach Library.

________________________________________

Common wireweed (Sida ulmifolia, Malvaceae)
Native

Disturbed sites, especially near sidewalks.

________________________________________

Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella, Asteraceae)
Native

Near the sidewalk from the library to the skate park.

________________________________________

Cutleaf evening-primrose (Oenothera laciniata, Onagraceae)
Native

Near west end of DeSoto Parkway median. The flowers open in the evening, hence the name "evening-primrose." These were photographed in the morning, so they were yesterday's blossoms, which explains their droopiness. The flowers turn reddish after blooming. One of the most distinctive features of the flower is the stigma with four branches, forming an X shape. Leaves are deeply lobed and hairy. Disturbed sites. Flower all year.

________________________________________

Spiny sowthistle (Sonchus asper, Asteraceae)
Not native

A small and very spiny thistle.

________________________________________

Bay lobelia (Lobelia feayana, Campanulaceae)
Native, Florida endemic

Many small patches of bay lobelia are beginning to appear in the DeSoto Parkway median. They are one of the first wildflowers to appear in early spring. These were just getting started when I photographed them. A few days later, the town mower came by and mowed them all down. Last year, the mowers mowed around them, so they lasted for many weeks. Maybe that will happen again this year when the bay lobelia patches become more prominent. Found in moist areas. Taylor states that they flower in late winter, spring, summer, fall; however, the only time I've seen them flower has been in late winter and spring.

________________________________________

Manyflower marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata, Araliaceae)
Native

These plants are commonly found in lawns and other sites with moist soil.

________________________________________

Innocence (Houstonia procumbens, Rubiaceae)
Native

I had thought this plant was found only in dry, sandy soils since that is where I have previously found it. But after a bit of online research, I found that it prefers moist, open habitats, which is where I found it on this day—in the moist soil in the DeSoto Parkway median. Its delicate white flowers are tubular in shape with tips that flare into four petals. The round leaves look almost succulent. Innocence is found in the southeast coastal plain, from Louisiana to South Carolina.

________________________________________

Soldier’s orchid, lawn orchid (Zeuxine strateumatica, Orchidaceae)
Not native

This was a new wildflower for me. Found in disturbed, grassy areas throughout Florida and coastal areas of Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Flowers in fall and winter. The leaves on this plant have been clipped by recent mowing.