Turkey Creek Sanctuary, April 18, 2011

This was just a quick check to see what was blooming in Turkey Creek Sanctuary. Found a few wildflowers (most would call them weeds) at the edge of the parking lot and took photos of plants in the butterfly garden. Not much blooming on the nature trail.

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Powderpuff (Mimosa strigillosa, Fabaceae)

This and the next four plants were found at the edge of the parking lot.

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Dixie ticktrefoil (Desmodium tortuosum, Fabaceae)

Not native

This is a tentative identification of this "beggar tick" plant.

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Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta, Fabaceae)

Native

I first saw this species along the nature trail in Turkey Creek in November 2010. It was a very robust, woody plant, eventually identified by the UF Herbarium, through Sally Scalera. I searched for it on this visit, but could not find any trace of it on the nature trail. This specimen was next to the parking lot.

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Showy rattlebox (Crotalaria spectabilis, Fabaceae)

Not native

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Southern beeblossom (Gaura angustifolia, Onagraceae)

Native

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Lanceleaf blanketflower (Gaillardia aestivalis, Asteraceae)

Native

This plant and the next six were found in the butterfly garden.

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Carolina wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis, Acanthaceae)

Native

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Bastard false indigo (Amorpha fruitcosa, Fabaceae)

Native

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Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens, Caprifloiaceae)

Native

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Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea, Lamiaceae)

Native

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Zarzabacoa comun (Desmodium incanum, Fabaceae)

Not native

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Yellow necklacepod (Sophora tomentosa var. truncata, Fabaceae)

Native

Although this plant is native to Brevard Co., I've never seen it in the wild—only in butterfly gardens and as landscape plantings.

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Skyblue lupine (Lupinus diffusus, Fabaceae)

Native

Found only this one plant with a few blossoms. All the others had turned to seed pods.

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Bigflower or scrub pawpaw (Asimina obvata, Annonaceae)

Native, Florida endemic

There are several of these large pawpaws along the nature trail. (Added "Florida endemic" Feb 20, 2012.)

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Pricklypear cactus (Opuntia humifusa, Cactaceae)

Native

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