Cruickshank, July 22, 2012

On this visit I found a new species in Cruickshank: Polanisia tenuifolia. This was the first time I had seen it in Brevard. Previously I had seen it only in the Lake Wales Ridge area.

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American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata, Nymphaeaceae )

Native

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Catchfly, slenderleaf clammyweed (Polanisia tenuifolia, Brassicaceae)

Native

I found only four plants of this species. They were all growing in an open, disturbed, dry, sandy area about 10x10 ft., at the southwest corner of the first major intersection in the sanctuary. Nearby were blacksenna and partridge pea.

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Piedmont blacksenna (Seymeria pectinata, Orobanchaceae)

Native

Plants of this species turn black when they die, as shown in the upper right photo. Seymaria is parasitic on the roots of pines and other trees.

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Rough hedgehyssop (Gratiola hispida, Veronicaceae)

 Native

The top left photo shows the large G. hispida plant I found in the sanctuary. I had never seen it grow so large before.

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Coastalplain St. John's-wort (Hypericum brachyphyllum, Clusiaceae)

Native

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Yellow milkwort (Polygala rugelii, Polygalaceae).

Native, Florida endemic

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Scrub Jay

About a dozen scrub jays came to investigate us. One fearless jay perched on my cap for a few seconds.

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Wickham Park, July 2 & 4, 2012

This was primarily a visit to get a good photograph of a loblolly bay blossom. Some of the users of this blog may not be aware that I submit a monthly wildflower photo and brief description to the free local newspaper, "Senior Life." (You can view the newspaper online; the wildflower I selected for June was pale meadowbeauty, at the top of page 23 of the June issue). I usually try to submit a flower that is blooming in that month. The July flower is swamp rosemallow, currently blooming in the St. Johns River marshes. I plan to submit loblolly bay for August.

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Loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus, Theaceae)

Native

Look for one of these close-up photos in the August issue of SeniorLife. Loblolly bay can be seen in Wickham Park on the north edge of the north disc golf course. Loblolly bay is common on swamp margins along SR 528. Look for medium-height trees with large, white flowers amongst dark-green, glossy leaves.

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Florida false sunflower (Phoebanthus grandiflorus, Asteraceae)
Native, Florida endemic

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Rough hedgehyssop (Gratiola hispida, Veronicaceae)

Native

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Fringed yellow stargrass (Hypoxis juncea, Hypoxidaceae)

Native

Yellow stargrass was widespread in the mowed areas of the park.

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Coastalplain milkwort (Polygala setacea, Polygalaceae)
Native

Stumbled upon a wildflower I had never seen before, Polygala setacea. The plants resemble a wiry grass and are easily overlooked. More than 2 dozen were growing in an area about 6 x 6 ft. I didn't find any outside this area. The flower heads are small and pointed, located at the tip of slender stalks. Leaves are tiny and scalelike.

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 Pineland pinweed (Lechea sessiliflora, Cistaceae)

Native

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Unidentified grass

A common, fuzzy-headed grass.

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Unidentified grass

The reddish spots of color caught my eye.

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