Rotary Park-Merritt Island, March 5, 2011

This Rotary Park is located on SR 3, about 2 miles south of SR 520. It has an interpretive nature boardwalk and a Nature Center that offers exhibits, tours, and classes. The boardwalk runs through a hammock and pine area.

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Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmundaceae)

Native

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Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum, Dennstaedtiaceae)

Native

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Swamp fern (Blechnum serrulatum, Blechnaceae)

Native

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Royal fern (Osmunda regalis, Osmundaceae)

Native

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Aphids

These aphids were feasting on a stem of swallowwort (a vine related to milkweed).

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Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Iridaceae)

Native

This was found in the grass near the Nature Center.

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Straggler daisy (Calyptocarpus vialis, Asteraceae)

Not native

This plant was growing as a weed in the mowed grass near the Nature Center.

On March 25, 2011, "Anonymous," in a comment to this post, correctly identified the plant as Calyptocarpus vialis, a non-native weed. I had previousy labeled it as Pectis prostrat, which was mostly a guess based on similarity in appearance.

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Virginia plantain, southern plantain (Plantago virginica, Plantaginaceae)

Native

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Canadian toadflax (Linaria canadensis, Plantaginaceae)

Native

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