Merritt Island NWR, August 12, 2012

My wife and I drove around Black Point Drive in the Merritt Island NWR this morning. Found a few wildflowers in bloom. Two were new to this blog: Dwarf Canadian horseweed and white sweetclover. We also saw, but did not photograph: pepppervine (Ampelopsis arborea), Virginia saltmarsh mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos), and bushy seaside oxeye (Borrichia frutescens). Peppervine was in fruit; the other two were in bloom.

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American bluehearts (Buchnera americana, Orobanchaceae)

Native

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Beach false foxglove (Agalinus fasciculata, Orobanchaceae)

Native

These were along the drive just beyond the parking lot for the trail to the tower. In past visits, the plants were much taller. Perhaps recent mowings had kept these short. The stems were dark brown, which, in addition to the small lavender flowers, made the plants easy to spot.

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Dwarf Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis var. pusilla, Asteraceae)

Native

New to this blog. The purple tips on the phylalaries identify this Canadian horseweed as the var. pusilla. I have mistakenly called this plant "smallhead doll's daisy" in the past; however, that species has larger flower heads and is not found in Brevard or neighboring counties.

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Coastalplain goldenaster (Chrysopsis scabrella, Asteraceae)

Native

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Hairypod cowpea (Vigna luteola, Fabaceae)
Native

This is a very widespread and common species of pea.

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Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Asterceae)

Native

Blossoms are shown here.

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Marsh gentian; seaside gentian (Eustoma exaltatum, Gentianaceae)

Native

These were found where I usually find them--a short distance beyond the parking lot for the trail to the tower.

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Spotted beebalm; dotted horsemint (Monarda punctata, Lamiaceae)

Native

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White sweetclover (Melilotus albus, Fabaceae)

Not native

New to this blog. I have probably seen this species before, but did not bother trying to identify it.

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Narrowleaf yellowtops (Flaveria linearis, Asteraceae)

Native

Each flower head in this species has only one ray floret.

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Great southern white butterfly
on Spanish needles

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