Wet Flatwoods 1 Snapshot Information and Images
Corkwood
Stillingia aquatica (still-INJ-ee-ah ah-KWAT-ah-cah)
This small emergent shrub of Hypericum marshes is in the Spurge Family related to Crotons and Poinsettias. It is widespread and perhaps the most common marsh shrub locally except for Peelbark St. John's-Wort. The narrow alternate leaves are thickened, widest above the middle, and serrate (sawtoothed) at the edges. The serrations have tiny black tips. The flower clusters are erect candles with pale yellowish flowers, standing vertically at the branch tips. The swollen objects at the bases of the candles are fruits. These have 3 lobes.
Stillingia aquatica (still-INJ-ee-ah ah-KWAT-ah-cah)
This small emergent shrub of Hypericum marshes is in the Spurge Family related to Crotons and Poinsettias. It is widespread and perhaps the most common marsh shrub locally except for Peelbark St. John's-Wort. The narrow alternate leaves are thickened, widest above the middle, and serrate (sawtoothed) at the edges. The serrations have tiny black tips. The flower clusters are erect candles with pale yellowish flowers, standing vertically at the branch tips. The swollen objects at the bases of the candles are fruits. These have 3 lobes.
Dahoon Holly
Ilex cassine (EYE-lex cass-EEN-ee)
Dahoon Holly is one of the most frequently encountered small trees or shrubs in local wet areas. The bark is often near-white, frequently decorated with red lichens but not necessarily. The leaves have small teeth on the margins. This helps a lot with recognition. The small white flowers are followed by red or orange holly berries. The name cassine comes from a Native American tea brewed from this species and from Yaupon Holly.
Ilex cassine (EYE-lex cass-EEN-ee)
Dahoon Holly is one of the most frequently encountered small trees or shrubs in local wet areas. The bark is often near-white, frequently decorated with red lichens but not necessarily. The leaves have small teeth on the margins. This helps a lot with recognition. The small white flowers are followed by red or orange holly berries. The name cassine comes from a Native American tea brewed from this species and from Yaupon Holly.
Dog Fennel
Eupatorium capillifolium (you-pah-TORE-ee-um cap-ill-ah-FOAL-ee-um)
Dog Fennel is an abundant native weed in Florida with a preference for wet sites. The annual plants start out tiny and can reach many feet tall as the season progresses. The dissected stringy droopy leaves look like dill and stink when crushed. The flower heads are white and small, the entire inflorescence droopy like the leaves. There can be thousands of flower heads on a single plant. Recognize this species by its smell.
Eupatorium capillifolium (you-pah-TORE-ee-um cap-ill-ah-FOAL-ee-um)
Dog Fennel is an abundant native weed in Florida with a preference for wet sites. The annual plants start out tiny and can reach many feet tall as the season progresses. The dissected stringy droopy leaves look like dill and stink when crushed. The flower heads are white and small, the entire inflorescence droopy like the leaves. There can be thousands of flower heads on a single plant. Recognize this species by its smell.
Gallberry
Ilex glabra (EYE-lex GLAY-breh)
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Gallberry is our other local holly, and is widespread and abundant, especially in wet pinewoods and associated habitats. The plants are much smaller than Dahoon Holly. The small Gallberry flowers look like those of Dahoon, although the berries mature to dark purple-black and taste awful. Gallberry usually stands 3 to 6 feet tall and spreads aggressively by rhizomes, especially after fire. In can blanket large areas. The narrow leaves have subtle teeth on the margins toward the tip. It is one of our locally dominant plants.
Ilex glabra (EYE-lex GLAY-breh)
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Gallberry is our other local holly, and is widespread and abundant, especially in wet pinewoods and associated habitats. The plants are much smaller than Dahoon Holly. The small Gallberry flowers look like those of Dahoon, although the berries mature to dark purple-black and taste awful. Gallberry usually stands 3 to 6 feet tall and spreads aggressively by rhizomes, especially after fire. In can blanket large areas. The narrow leaves have subtle teeth on the margins toward the tip. It is one of our locally dominant plants.
Loblolly Bay
Gordonia lasianthus (gore-DOAN-ee-ah laze-ee-ANTH-us)
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Loblolly Bay has perhaps the showiest blossoms of any local tree or shrub. The flowers look like huge white golden-centered Camellias, to which they are related in the Tea Family. These big shrubs or small trees are fussy about where they grow, rare in Palm Beach County, more abundant in adjacent Martin County and beyond. The leathery leaves are saw-toothed (serrate). The fruits are woody capsules. As you might guess, this gem is beloved in landscaping where it will grow cultivated, mostly to our north.
Gordonia lasianthus (gore-DOAN-ee-ah laze-ee-ANTH-us)
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Loblolly Bay has perhaps the showiest blossoms of any local tree or shrub. The flowers look like huge white golden-centered Camellias, to which they are related in the Tea Family. These big shrubs or small trees are fussy about where they grow, rare in Palm Beach County, more abundant in adjacent Martin County and beyond. The leathery leaves are saw-toothed (serrate). The fruits are woody capsules. As you might guess, this gem is beloved in landscaping where it will grow cultivated, mostly to our north.
Peelbark St. John’s-Wort
Hypericum fasciculatum (and similar H. brachyphyllum) (hi-PEAR-ah-come fass-ick-you-LAY-tum)
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We have several St. John’s-Worts, species of Hypericum, in our area. In local wetlands especially abundant is Peelbark St. John’s-Wort, easily recognized by being the dominant shrub in many marsh habitats and by its needlelike leaves, yellow flowers, and notably peeling bark. Almost all St. John’s-Worts have opposite or clustered leaves, yellow flowers with 4 or 5 petals, and numerous stamens. Most, but not all, prefer wet habitats. Sorting them all out is beyond the scope of our introductory class, but if you wish to, we’ll help. Also, see Hypericum in our book. Species of Hypericum are sold as natural remedies for depression, but they can cause eye damage and skin sensitization to sunlight. They are toxic to livestock.
Hypericum fasciculatum (and similar H. brachyphyllum) (hi-PEAR-ah-come fass-ick-you-LAY-tum)
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We have several St. John’s-Worts, species of Hypericum, in our area. In local wetlands especially abundant is Peelbark St. John’s-Wort, easily recognized by being the dominant shrub in many marsh habitats and by its needlelike leaves, yellow flowers, and notably peeling bark. Almost all St. John’s-Worts have opposite or clustered leaves, yellow flowers with 4 or 5 petals, and numerous stamens. Most, but not all, prefer wet habitats. Sorting them all out is beyond the scope of our introductory class, but if you wish to, we’ll help. Also, see Hypericum in our book. Species of Hypericum are sold as natural remedies for depression, but they can cause eye damage and skin sensitization to sunlight. They are toxic to livestock.
Plume Grass
Saccharum giganteum (SACK-ah-rum jye-GANT-ee-um)
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Few local grasses grow this tall. This giant is a native relative of Sugar Cane. You might mistake it for another similar grass, Common Reed, Phragmites australis, but Plume Grass has a long awn (needle) on the seedhead, and there is a fuzzy moustache where the leaf blade joins the stem. Plume Grass develops a beautiful silky plume late in the season. The plume eventually falls apart to leave a bare wand.
Saccharum giganteum (SACK-ah-rum jye-GANT-ee-um)
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Few local grasses grow this tall. This giant is a native relative of Sugar Cane. You might mistake it for another similar grass, Common Reed, Phragmites australis, but Plume Grass has a long awn (needle) on the seedhead, and there is a fuzzy moustache where the leaf blade joins the stem. Plume Grass develops a beautiful silky plume late in the season. The plume eventually falls apart to leave a bare wand.
Virginia Chain Fern
Woodwardia virginica (wood-WARD-ee-ah ver-JIN-ah-cah)
Virginia Chainfern is common and plentiful in moist open habitats, often spreading as a groundcover. At a glance it looks somewhat like Hottentot Fern or maybe Cinnamon Fern, but Virginia Chain Fern has a definitive tell: look along the main vein of the leaflet lobe --- that vein has a chain on either side.
Woodwardia virginica (wood-WARD-ee-ah ver-JIN-ah-cah)
Virginia Chainfern is common and plentiful in moist open habitats, often spreading as a groundcover. At a glance it looks somewhat like Hottentot Fern or maybe Cinnamon Fern, but Virginia Chain Fern has a definitive tell: look along the main vein of the leaflet lobe --- that vein has a chain on either side.
Wax Myrtle
Myrica cerifera (MY-reh-cah serr-IF-ah-rah)
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Wax Myrtle is a locally common shrub in multiple habitats, most often moist places. The narrow leaves are widest above the middle with irregular teeth. They are often fragrant when crushed but this varies. The small flowers followed by small waxy fruits form directly along the stems, as is true also of myrsine. The fragrant wax on the fruits is recovered by boiling and skimming, and is related to Bayberry, as in Bayberry candles. Wax Myrtle can “fix” nitrogen, an uncommon adaptation outside of the Legume Family.
Myrica cerifera (MY-reh-cah serr-IF-ah-rah)
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Wax Myrtle is a locally common shrub in multiple habitats, most often moist places. The narrow leaves are widest above the middle with irregular teeth. They are often fragrant when crushed but this varies. The small flowers followed by small waxy fruits form directly along the stems, as is true also of myrsine. The fragrant wax on the fruits is recovered by boiling and skimming, and is related to Bayberry, as in Bayberry candles. Wax Myrtle can “fix” nitrogen, an uncommon adaptation outside of the Legume Family.