Sunday, January 29, 2012

Wickham Park, January 29, 2012

A brief visit to see if anything new or interesting was in bloom. We checked the ditch and shoulder next to the unpaved road leading into the Youth Camping Area and along the main trail north of the Senior Center.
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Bay lobelia (Lobelia feayana, Campanulaceae)
Native, Florida endemic

A few of these were scattered along the shoulder of the unpaved road into the Youth Camping Area.  Bay lobelia is currently growing in thick patches in the median of DeSoto Parkway in Satellite Beach.

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Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana, Haemodoraceae)
Native

Redroot seed head has an interesting appearance.
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Oakleaf fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius, Asteraceae)
Native

It was believed at one time that the dried plants repelled fleas.
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Black medic (Medicago lupulina, Fabaceae)
Not native
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Florida tasselflower (Emilia fosbergii, Asteraceae)
Not native
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Cutleaf evening-primrose (Oenothera laciniata, Onagraceae)
Native

This and the following entries were found along the trail on the north side of the Senior Center.
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Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites, Ericaceae)
Native
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Oriental false hawksbeard (Youngia japonica, Astereaceae)
Not native
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Scrub jays

We were surprised by a group of four noisy scrub jays. They flew very close, probably looking for a handout, then began loud scolding. Expressing their displeasure at us having nothing for them? Or maybe a nest was nearby.
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Turkey Creek Sanctuary, January 22, 2012

This visit was mostly to see if the skyblue lupines were yet in bloom.
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Skyblue lupine (Lupinus diffusus, Fabaceae)
Native
 
One of the most beautiful wildflowers in Florida. Found throughout most of Florida and parts of other southeastern U.S. states. Flowers mid-winter and spring. Only this one plant was in bloom. Found several other non-blooming plants, but a lot fewer plants than in years past.

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Largeflower false rosemary (Conradina grandiflora, Lamiaceae)
Native, Florida endemic, Threatened

Found along the east coast of Florida, from Volusia Co. south to Miami-Dade. Flowers throughout the year.
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Virginia creeper; woodbine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Vitaceae)
Native
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Tosohatchee WMA, January 20, 2012

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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Trail off Long Bluff Rd
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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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