Monday, May 25, 2015

Malabar Scrub Sanctuary, Plant Survey #1, May 25, 2015

Four members of the Conradina Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society met to survey plants in Malabar Scrub Sanctuary. The participants were Carol Hebert, Martha Steuwart, Suzanne Valencia, and myself, Wayne Matchett.

This first walk in the southern areas of the scrub took us through several natural communities: scrub, basin marsh, disturbed, and ruderal.

We entered at the main access point, the south end of the abandoned concrete road (Malabar Woods Blvd) that runs north-south through the scrub. From the entrance we turned right (east) onto the first firebreak, walked east to a crossing firebreak, turned left (north) and followed the firebreak north to a major intersection of two firebreaks. We then walked east to the wooden walkway over a wet section. After exploring the plants on either side of the wooden walkway, we then returned to Malabar Woods Blvd, where we crossed over and followed a bicycle trail around the north end of the large south pond. We followed the trail around the west side of the pond, ending up back at the beginning.

We focused on identifying unusual plants or plants that might not be on the existing plant list for Malabar Scrub. This posting includes photos of only the "interesting" plants. A comprehensive report on the results to-date is being prepared separately.

We found two endemics, Florida scrub roseling and savannah milkweed, and two invasive plants, rose myrtle and Peruvian primrosewillow.

New plants, those not on the existing list, were: buttonbush, Nuttall's meadowbeauty, red maple, stinging nettle, and savannah milkweed.
_________________________________________________



Rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Myrtaceae)
 Not native

A beautiful shrub, but unfortunately it is an exotic invasive plant. Native to Asia, it is spreading unchecked in Florida, taking over the understory of native pinelands, and probably altering the natural fire regimes of southern Florida. Introduced as landscaping plants, heavy infestations of rose myrtle already occur in several central and southern counties.
_________________________________________________


Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa, Ericaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Florida scrub roseling (Callisia ornata, Commelinaceae)
Native, endemic
_________________________________________________


Rose-rush (Lygodesmia aphylla, Asteraceae)
Native

Not fully opened, yet.
_________________________________________________


Florida scrub frostweed; rock-rose (Helianthemum nashii, Cistaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis, Rubiaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________





Ferns

Not yet identified.
_________________________________________________




Nuttall's meadowbeauty (Rhexia nuttallii, Melastomataceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Peruvian primrosewillow (Ludwigia peruviana, Onagraceae)
Not native
_________________________________________________


Red maple (Acer rubrum, Sapindaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Stinking camphorweed (Pluchea foetida, Asteraceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Tread-softly; finger-rot; stinging nettle (Cnidoscolus stimulosus, Euphorbiaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Coastalplain milkwort ( Polygala setacea, Polygalaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Slender flattop goldenrod (Euthamia caroliniana, Asteraceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Savannah milkweed (Asclepias pedicellata, Apocynaceae)
Native, Florida endemic
_________________________________________________


Unidentified goldenrod
_________________________________________________


Unidentified
_________________________________________________


Vente conmigo; tooth-leafed croton (Croton glandulosus var. septentrionalis, Euphorbiaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Palmetto sunburst
_________________________________________________




Sunday, May 24, 2015

Malabar Scrub & Cameron Preserve, May 23, 2015

Short forays into the western section of Malabar Scrub and the Cameron Preserve. The Cameron Preserve is located between the east and west sections of Malabar Scrub.
_________________________________________________




Views of trails
near entrance to western section of Malabar Scrub.
This entrance is at the south end of Briar Creek Blvd, off Port Malabar Blvd.
_________________________________________________


Pink purslane (Portulaca pilosa, Portulacaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium, Asteraceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Asterceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Pennsylvania everlasting, Pennsylvania cudweed (Gamocaeta pensylvanica, Asteraceae)
Not native
_________________________________________________



Rustweed (Polypremum procumbens, Tetrachondraceae) Native
_________________________________________________



Velvetleaf milkweed (Asclepias tomentosa, Apocynaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Common wireweed (Sida ulmifolia, Malvaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum, Ericaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Chapman's oak (Quercus chapmanii, Fagaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________



Hairy indigo (Indigofera hirsuta, Fabaceae)
Not native
_________________________________________________


Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens, Asteraceae)
Native

A velvetleaf milkweed can be seen on the right-hand side.
_________________________________________________



American pokeweed, (Phytolacca americana, Phytolaccaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________



Mascarene Island leafflower (Phyllanthus tenellus, Phyllanthaceae)
Not native

Unusual plant. Flowers (and fruit) appear along the stems of the compound leaves.
_________________________________________________



Un-identified

Plant has large, wavy, rough leaves and hairy stem.
_________________________________________________


Cameron entrance
at north end of Corey Rd
_________________________________________________


View north from entrance
_________________________________________________


Largeflower rosegentian (Sabatia grandiflora, Gentianaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Pale meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana, Melastomataceae)
Native
_________________________________________________



Sandweed; peelbark St.John's-wort (Hypericum fasciculatum, Clusiaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Tarflower (Bejaria racemosa, Ericaceae)
Native
_________________________________________________


Yellow milkwort (Polygala rugelii, Polygalaceae)
Native; Florida endemic
_________________________________________________