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.

________________________________________

Beehead Rd

Near Taylor Creek Rd entrance.

________________________________________

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).

________________________________________

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,

________________________________________

Unidentified

This appears to be a helmet skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) that is past blooming.

________________________________________

Aster

Unidentified species. Only one found.

________________________________________

Power Line Rd

Looking west (left) and east (right).

________________________________________

Leavenworth's tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii, Asteraceae)
Native

We found only a few of these scattered along several roads.

________________________________________

Phaon crescent butterfly

On C. leavenworthii.

________________________________________

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.

________________________________________

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.

________________________________________

Bog white violet (Viola lanceolata, Violaceae)
Native

Found a dozen, or so, blooming along St. Nicholas Rd.

________________________________________

Innocence; roundleaf bluet (Houstonia procumbens, Rubiaceae)
Native

Found a small patch along St. Nicholas Rd.

________________________________________

Fourpetal St.John's-wort (Hypericum tetrapetalum, Clusiaceae)
Native

Only a few scattered along several roads were in bloom.

________________________________________

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.

________________________________________

Aster

Possibly Simmonds' aster (Symphyotrichum simmondsii).

________________________________________

Jim Creek

Where it crosses Fish Hole Rd.

________________________________________

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.

________________________________________

Mud Lake Canal

Looking north, across the Beachline.

________________________________________

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.

________________________________________

 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.

________________________________________

Mexican primrosewillow (Ludwigia octovalvis, Onagraceae)
Native

The slender, pencil-shaped seed pod, helps identify this primrosewillow.

________________________________________

Hairypod cowpea (Vigna luteola, Fabaceae)
Native

________________________________________

Trail off Long Bluff Rd

________________________________________

Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites, Ericaceae)
Native

________________________________________

Long Bluff Rd

Heading north.

________________________________________

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.

________________________________________

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. 

________________________________________

 St. Johns River

View from the east end of Power Line Rd.
________________________________________