Pelican Island, March 4, 2011

This is a posting of photos from Pelican Island NWR, that part of the refuge that is on the barrier island, off Jungle Trail, west of SR A1A. The refuge is in Indian River County, just across the southern border of Brevard. The posting is in two parts: Part 1 is plants outside the butterfly garden, and Part 2 is plants in the butterfly garden. The first part includes four plants new to the blog: tabebuia, cranesbill, strangler fig, and buttonwood.

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Part 1: Plants Outside the Butterfly Garden

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Caribbean trumpet tree (Tabebuia aurea, Bignoniaceae)

Not native

This tree was in the parking lot at Long Point Restaurant, where I stopped on the way to Pelican Island NWR.

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Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella, Asteraceae)

Native

Large patches of firewheel were near the path to the overlook at Pelican Island NWR overlook.

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Carolina cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum, Geraniaceae)

Native

A few patches of cranesbill were scattered about.

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Virginia pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum, Brassicaceae)

Native

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Eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans, Anacardiaceae)

Native

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Sand live oak (Quercus geminate, Fagaceae)

Native

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Strangler fig (Ficus aurea, Moraceae)

Native

A strangler fig is sometimes difficult to recognize when it's not strangling something. One clue is the yellow midrib on the leathery leaves. Of course, another clue is figs, which indicate at least that the tree belongs to the genus Ficus. Figs are unique in that the flowers form inside the fruit. The flowers are pollinated by tiny wasps.

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Yellowjackets

Yellowjackets were working on a paper nest suspended from a branch of a strangler fig tree.

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Boardwalk

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View from Boardwalk

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Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus, Combretaceae)

Native

A type of mangrove found near brackish water. The fruit resembles buttons and is the origin of the common name.

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Hercules-club (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis, Rutaceae)

Native

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Pelican Island

The first National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1903 to protect brown pelican nesting grounds.

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Part 2: Butterfly Garden

It was raining on and off, which explains the water droplets in some of the photos. In the butterfly garden I found three wildflowers new to this blog: scorpionstail, buttonsage, and Florida pellitory.

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Butterfly Garden

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Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens, Caprifoliaceae)

Native

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Walter's groundcherry (Physalis walteri, Solanaceae)

Native

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East coast dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis, Asteraceae)

Native

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Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea, Lamiaceae)

Native

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Spotted beebalm, horsemint (Monarda punctata, Lamiaceae)

Native

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Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata, Lamiaceae)

Native

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Scorpionstail (Heliotropium angiospermum, Boraginaceae)

Native

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Carolina wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis, Acanthaceae)

Native

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Oblongleaf twinflower (Dyschoriste oblongifolia, Acanthaceae)

Native

I believe I have correctly identified this flower. It had started raining again, so I didn't have time to poke around to get a good view of the entire plant.

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Buttonsage (Lantana involucrata, Verbenaceae)

Native

Three Lantanas can be found in this area. This is the only one of the three that is a native.

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Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens, Asteraceae)

Native

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Canadian toadflax (Linaria canadensis, Plantaginaceae)

Native

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Southern beeblossom (Gaura angustifolia, Onagraceae)

Native

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Trailing indigo (Indigofera spicata, Fabaceae)

Not native

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Black medick (Medicago lupulina, Fabaceae)

Not native

Left: blossom with yellow inchworm; right: spiral seed pods.

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Florida Pellitory (Parietaria floridana, Urticaceae)
Native

I had originally labeled this as an "unidentified weed." However, Suzanne Valencia (who was the creator of the PINWR butterfly garden) came to my rescue on March 22, 2011, and identified this plant, as shown above. She reports that Florida Pellitory is a host plant for the Red Admiral butterfly. Thanks, Suzanne!

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