Tosohatchee WMA: Phoebanthus & Butterflies, August 25, 2013

A few weeks ago a researcher from the University of British Columbia / Department of Biology contacted me re: Florida false sunflower (Phoebanthus grandiflorus). He is studying the genetics of real sunflowers (Helianthus) and recently came across this blog while searching for photos of Phoebanthus. He was interested in obtaining Phoebanthus seeds and asked if I could help collect some seeds. I agreed to help, which led to this lastest visit to Tosohatchee WMA by my wife and I. On this early morning visit, we had three Phoebanthus sightings. Some of the plants were close to producing mature seeds. Along the way, we photographed a few other wildflowers and butterflies. The visit was quickly ended by heavy rain.

__________________________________________________

 Beehead Rd.

Left: looking west towards entrance; right: looking east towards St. Nicolas Rd. In an earlier visit, we had seen Phoebanthus along the south side of Beehead Rd., but we found none there on this visit.

__________________________________________________

Florida false sunflower #1
 (Phoebanthus grandiflorus, Asteraceae)

Native, Florida endemic

On this visit, our first sighting of Phoebanthus was a small "colony" about 20 ft east of St. Nicolas Rd., across a small, wet ditch, shortly after the intersection with Beehead Rd. The colony contained about a dozen stems, half with blooms and half with seedheads.

__________________________________________________

 

Florida false sunflower #2

The second sighting was of a single sunflower growing about 20 ft east of St. Nicholas Rd. Phoebanthus leaves are covered with stiff hairs on the upper and lower surfaces. The hairs point away from the stem, so your finger snags  if you try to sweep it toward the stem, 

__________________________________________________

Florida false sunflower #3

The third sighting was of another single sunflower about 20 ft east of St. Nicholas Rd. All three sightings were within a span of about 500 ft.

__________________________________________________

Vanillaleaf (Carphephorus odoratissimus, Asteraceae)

Native

__________________________________________________

Pineland chaffhead (Carphephorus carnosus, Asteraceae)
Native, Florida endemic

These were growing in a wet depression, which is typical habitat for this Carphephorus.

__________________________________________________

Shortleaf gayfeather (Liatris tenuifolia, Asteraceae)
Native

__________________________________________________

Rose-rush (Lygodesmia aphylla, Asteraceae)
Native

__________________________________________________

Semaphore thoroughwort (Eupatorium mikanioides, Asteraceae)
Native

__________________________________________________

Roundleaf thoroughwort; false horehound (Eupatorium rotundifolium, Asteraceae)
Native

__________________________________________________

Mohr's thoroughwort (Eupatorium mohrii, Asteraceae) Native

__________________________________________________

Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis, Rubiaceae)
Native

__________________________________________________

Meadowbeauty (Rhexia spp., Melastomataceae)
Native

This is probably pale meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana).

__________________________________________________

Clustered bushmint; musky mint (Hyptis alata, Lamiaceae)
Native

Note the green lynx spider on the left, waiting for prey.

__________________________________________________

 Orange milkwort (Polygala lutea, Polygalaceae)
Native

__________________________________________________

Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana, Haemodoraceae)
Native

__________________________________________________

Butterflies

Top row: Palamedes swallowtail; second row: White peacock; all others are unidentified at this time.

__________________________________________________

Rain!

__________________________________________________