Space Coast Wildflowers: March 2015

This was our third trip to view and photograph wildflowers in the Florida Panhandle, especially the abundant wildflowers along the SR 65 roadside in the Apalachicola National Forest. We did not see as many wildflowers as we did on the previous two trips. It appeared we were too early; the other trips were in May and June.

We took a few photos of wildflowers along SR 98 on the way to Perry, where we stayed the first night. Next morning, we took SR 98 to SR 267 to SR 20 to Hosford and then south on SR 65, which was our main destination. Most of the wildflower photos were taken along SR 65. We spent the second night at the lodge at Wakulla Springs State Park. The next morning on the way back home, we stopped at St. Marks Wildlife Refuge and San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park.

The photos below are arranged somewhat alphabetically, rather than chronologically.

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Turkey Oaks in Spring

New, bright green leaves, along Forest Road 118, off SR 65 (near the end of our journey along SR 65)

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

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Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius, Rosaceae)
Native

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Black medic (Medicago lupulina, Fabaceae)
Not native

One of the flowers used to make honey.

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Black titi; buckwheat tree (Cliftonia monophylla, Cyrillaceae)
Native

Abundant on the perimeter of swampy areas along SR 65.

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Butterweed (Packera glabella, Asteraceae)
Native

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Carolina cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum, Geraniaceae) Native

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Carolina desertchicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus, Asteraceae)
Native

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Pine-hyacinth (Clematis baldwinii, Ranunculaceae)
Native, Florida endemic

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Yellow colicroot (Aletris lutea, Nartheciaceae)
Native

Flowers not opened, yet, but plant is identified by its basal leaves and the arrangement of the flower buds.

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Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens, Caprifloiaceae)
Native

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Crowpoison; Osceola's plume (Stenanthium densum, Melanthiaceae)
Native

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Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida, Cornaceae)
Native

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Oakleaf fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius, Asteraceae)
Native

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Early whitetop fleabane (Erigeron vernus, Asteraceae)
Native

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Florida phlox (Phlox foridana, Polemoniaeae)
Native

This phlox was by itself.

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Early morning foggy view
along SR 12

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White fringetree; old-man's beard (Chionanthus virginicus, Oleaceae)
Native

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Hawthorne (Crateagus spp.)

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Heartwing dock; hastateleaf dock (Rumex hastatulus, Polygonaceae)
Native

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Southeastern sneezeweed (Helenium pinnatifidum, Asteraceae)
Native

We first saw a few sneezeweed at the rock quarry near the entrance road to Hickory Mound WMA (off SR 98, west of Perry). Later, we found large patches of sneezeweed along SR 65.

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St. John's-wort (Hypericum spp.)

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Dixie iris; prairie iris (Iris hexagona, Iridaceae)
Native

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Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata, Lamiaceae)
Native

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Cutleaf evening-primrose (Oenothera laciniata, Onagraceae)
Native

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Gulf purple pitcherplant; decumbent pitcherplant (Sarracenia rosea, Sarraceniaceae)
Native

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Yellow pitcher plant; trumpets (Sarracenia flava, Sarraceniaceae)
Native

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Quillwort arrowhead (Sagittaria isoetiformis, Alismataceae)
Native

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Abandoned rock quarry in the fog
next to road leading to Hickory Mound WMA

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Bluejacket; Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis, Commelinaceae)
Native

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Tenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon decangulare, Eriocaulaceae)
Native

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Purple thistle (Cirsium horridulum, Asteraceae)
Native

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Tracy's sundew (Drosera tracyi, Droseraceae)
Native

This unusual plant captures and digests insects caught in its sticky hairs.

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Unidentified

This low-growing plant has toothed trifoliate leaves and drupe-like fruit. The closest match I can find is Duchesnea indicia (Indian strawberry), a non-native plant.

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