Tosohatchee WMA, March 9, 2014: Irises

Tosohatchee is famous for its its springtime displays of irises. As we had hoped, we found some in bloom during this visit. 

___________________________________________________________

 

Dixie iris; prairie iris (Iris hexagona, Iridaceae)

Native

The irises were probably several weeks shy of peak blooming. We found quite a few in the wet ditches along Beehead Rd, Power Line Rd, and Fish Hole Rd. Most were single blossoming plants, but there were a few groups of iris. Emerging iris leaves were everywhere, waiting to bloom.

 ___________________________________________________________

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

 ___________________________________________________________

Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius, Rosaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Small butterwort (Pinguicula pumila, Lentibulariaceae)
Native

A tiny, carnivorous plant. Traps insects on its sticky, basal leaves. A relative of yellow butterwort, shown later in this post.

 ___________________________________________________________

Purple thistle (Cirsium horridulum, Asteraceae)
Native

Well-named thistle; horribly thorny!

 ___________________________________________________________

Smallfruit beggarticks (Bidens mitis, Asteraceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Bog white violet (Viola lanceolata, Violaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Iridaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Bay lobelia (Lobelia feayana, Campanulaceae)
Native, Florida endemic

 ___________________________________________________________

 Fringed yellow stargrass (Hypoxis juncea, Hypoxidaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Orange milkwort (Polygala lutea, Polygalaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Yellow butterwort (Pinguicula lutea, Lentibulariaceae)
Native

These carnivorous plants were also found in the same place on February 10, 2014.

The upper left photo shows the location of the yellow butterwort group (lower right in photo) along St. Nicholas Rd (looking towards Power Line Rd).

 ___________________________________________________________

 Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites, Ericaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

American snowbell (Styrax americanus, Styracaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Yellow jessamine (Gelsemium semperviren, Gelsemiaceae)
Native

This blossom was on the ground near the picnic tables on the short road/trail running east from Fish Hole Rd. Since we didn't find any yellow jessamine vines in the area, we suspect the blossom was picked elsewhere and dropped here.

Note the basket-weave appearance of the throat, a characteristic of yellow jessamine blossoms.

 ___________________________________________________________

Hairypod cowpea (Vigna luteola, Fabaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Creek in Springtime

This creek crosses Fish Hole Creek Rd (it might even be Fish Hole Creek!). New, bright-green leaves are emerging on the pond cypress in the left foreground.

 ___________________________________________________________

Smouldering

 Along Fish Hole Rd, a recent prescribed burn is still smoking in places.

 ___________________________________________________________

Coastalplain willow (Salix caroliniana, Salicaceae)
Native

Shown here are the male catkins. The female catkins (not shown) produce fuzzy, cottony seed heads.

 ___________________________________________________________

Hedge false bindweed (Calystegia sepium subsp. limnophila, Convolvulaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Spatterdock; yellow pondlily (Nuphar advena, Nymphaeaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

Common blue violet (Viola sororia, Violaceae)
Native

 ___________________________________________________________

 
Charlie Lake

Bald eagle nest near center.

 ___________________________________________________________

Closer view of eagle nest

One eagle on the nest and one perched nearby.

 ___________________________________________________________

Butterweed (Packera glabella, Asteraceae)
Native

An early spring wildflower. This specimen was located at the southern end of Fish Hole Rd, just before the road goes under SR 528. Butterweed stems are tall, smooth, ribbed, hollow, and succulent. We saw a few patches of butterweed near SR 520 and the St. Johns River.

 ___________________________________________________________