On this visit we explored deeper into Tosohatchee. We took Beehead Rd to St. Nicholas Rd to Power Line Rd to Fish Hole Rd. We followed Fish Hole Rd south, under the Beachline, and to the end of Charlie Lake Rd. We then returned north on Long Bluff Rd to Power Line Rd, and then back to the entrance. As expected, we didn't see much in bloom. However, as we looked closer in the grass along St. Nicholas Rd, we discovered a couple of small, unusual wildflowers--one new to me and this blog.
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Beehead Rd
Near Taylor Creek Rd entrance.
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Wooly sunbonnets, pineland daisy (
Chaptalia tomentosa, Asteraceae)
Native
This was a new flower for me. A couple of dozen of them were blooming on either side St. Nicholas Rd, between Beehead Rd and Power Line Rd. Wet flatwoods and bogs; 3-toothed ray florets; flowers solitary, nodding or erect. Basal rosette of leaves green on top, fuzzy white underneath. Throughout most of Florida and coastal areas from Texas to North Carolina. Blooms winter, spring, early summer (Taylor).
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Unidentified
The first plant (top two photos) consisted of tall stems with a solitary seed head at the tip. The second one was similar, except the stem was branched near the end. Both patches on east side of St. Nicholas Rd,
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Unidentified
This appears to be a helmet skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) that is past blooming.
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Aster
Unidentified species. Only one found.
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Power Line Rd
Looking west (left) and east (right).
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Leavenworth's tickseed (
Coreopsis leavenworthii, Asteraceae)
Native
We found only a few of these scattered along several roads.
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Phaon crescent butterfly
On C. leavenworthii.
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Baldwin's eryngo (
Erygium baldwinii, Apiaceae)
Native
This is a tiny flower, about the size of a pencil eraser. Stem prostrate, slender, creeping. Usually found where grass has been mowed.
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Small butterwort (Pinguicula pumila, Lentibulariaceae)
Native
A carnivorous plant, member of the bladderwort family. Found in moist, acid pinelands. Throughout Florida and coastal areas from Texas to North Carolina. Several dozen were blooming on either side of St Nicholas Rd. This is only the second time I've found this species. The first one was in Wickham Park in 2006. Note the basal leaves in upper left photo: light green, buttery-looking, and with rolled edges. The sticky leaves lure, trap, and digest insects.
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Bog white violet (
Viola lanceolata, Violaceae)
Native
Found a dozen, or so, blooming along St. Nicholas Rd.
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Innocence; roundleaf bluet (
Houstonia procumbens, Rubiaceae)
Native
Found a small patch along St. Nicholas Rd.
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Fourpetal St.John's-wort (
Hypericum tetrapetalum, Clusiaceae)
Native
Only a few scattered along several roads were in bloom.
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Smallfruit beggarticks (
Bidens mitis, Asteraceae)
Native
Only a few of these found in bloom. Note the three-lobed leaves, characteristic of all Bidens, except B. laevis.
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Aster
Possibly Simmonds' aster (
Symphyotrichum simmondsii).
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Jim Creek
Where it crosses Fish Hole Rd.
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Beachline Underpass
Fish Hole Rd and Long Bluff Rd join on the north side of the Beachline, then pass under and become Charlie Lake Rd.
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Mud Lake Canal
Looking north, across the Beachline.
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Lake Charlie
Lake Charlie is just south of the Beachline. It has recently been upgraded with several picnic shelters, pier, and restrooms.
We watched as a bald eagle attempted a diving catch of a fish. It missed, though.
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Burrmarigold; smooth beggarticks (
Bidens laevis, Asteraceae)
Native
Grows immersed in water. Often in large masses along lake and pond shores. The only member of the Bidens genus that has an unlobed leaf. All the others have leaves with 3 lobes, usually one large lobe and two smaller ones.
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Mexican primrosewillow (
Ludwigia octovalvis, Onagraceae)
Native
The slender, pencil-shaped seed pod, helps identify this primrosewillow.
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Hairypod cowpea (
Vigna luteola, Fabaceae)
Native
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Shiny blueberry (
Vaccinium myrsinites, Ericaceae)
Native
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Long Bluff Rd
Heading north.
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Turtle
Near the north end of Long Bluff Rd, we came upon this turtle preparing a nest for laying eggs. This is possibly a yellow-belly slider.
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Armadillo
Armadillos cannot see very well. This one snuffled all around near my feet, rooting in the dirt. Hearing is better than eyesight, since he darted away a short distance when my movements made a slight noise. He stuck his head in some tall grass with the rest of his body exposed, apparently thinking that if he couldn't see me, then I couldn't see him.
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St. Johns River
View from the east end of Power Line Rd.
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