Wetlands 2 Snapshot Information and Images
Bulrush
Schoenoplectus sp. (sheen-oh-PLECT-us)
There are a few species of Bulrushes in our area. Look for large (nearly) leafless plants rising from shallow water. They are essentially nothing but long wands with the small brown flower clusters dangling from the side a short distance below the pointy top.
Schoenoplectus sp. (sheen-oh-PLECT-us)
There are a few species of Bulrushes in our area. Look for large (nearly) leafless plants rising from shallow water. They are essentially nothing but long wands with the small brown flower clusters dangling from the side a short distance below the pointy top.
Carolina Willow
Salix caroliniana (SAY-lex care-oh-lin-ee-AIN-ah)
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A locally abundant shrub of sunny shores, sometimes in large stands. The leaves are very narrow, toothed, and sharp-tipped. They have a large stipule (flap where the leaf joins the stem). The flowers, in late winter or early spring, are not very showy and are packed into short stubby spikes. The fruits open to release parachute seeds.
Salix caroliniana (SAY-lex care-oh-lin-ee-AIN-ah)
See the Blog
A locally abundant shrub of sunny shores, sometimes in large stands. The leaves are very narrow, toothed, and sharp-tipped. They have a large stipule (flap where the leaf joins the stem). The flowers, in late winter or early spring, are not very showy and are packed into short stubby spikes. The fruits open to release parachute seeds.
Native Hibiscus (Lindenleaf Rosemallow)
Hibiscus furcellatus (high-BISS-cuss fur-cell-AY-tus)
This is the locally common native Hibiscus. The shrubs are extremely fuzzy, and the big flowers are pink. The fruit is a dry capsule that splits into 5 parts.
Hibiscus furcellatus (high-BISS-cuss fur-cell-AY-tus)
This is the locally common native Hibiscus. The shrubs are extremely fuzzy, and the big flowers are pink. The fruit is a dry capsule that splits into 5 parts.
Leather Fern
Acrostichum danaeifolium (ah-CROSS-tah-come dan-aye-FOAL-ee-um)
A huge wetland fern 3-8 feet tall. The leaves are pinnately compound. Some leaves have the spore-bearing organs painted on the back looking like brown paint, or “leather.”
Acrostichum danaeifolium (ah-CROSS-tah-come dan-aye-FOAL-ee-um)
A huge wetland fern 3-8 feet tall. The leaves are pinnately compound. Some leaves have the spore-bearing organs painted on the back looking like brown paint, or “leather.”
Pickerel Weed
Pontederia cordata (pon-teh-DARE-ee-ah core-DATE-ah)
You see Pickerel Weed in every pond and ditch. It likes shallow water or wet mud. The leaves are vaguely lance-shaped. You can’t miss the candles of purple flowers. It is related to Water Hyacinth which differs by floating.
Pontederia cordata (pon-teh-DARE-ee-ah core-DATE-ah)
You see Pickerel Weed in every pond and ditch. It likes shallow water or wet mud. The leaves are vaguely lance-shaped. You can’t miss the candles of purple flowers. It is related to Water Hyacinth which differs by floating.
Pond Apple
Annona glabra (ah-NOAN-ah GLAY-brah)
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“The” broadleaf tree of the Everglades. There once were forests of massive Pond Apples around the Lake Okeechobee southern rim. Now gone, but you can see smaller Pond Apples in shaded or sunny wetlands commonly in our area. The curious dangling flowers are cream-colored marked inside with red, and pollinated by beetles. The fruits look like a green heart, not good to eat. These trees often make long flexible straight whiplike branches, or “water sprouts.”
Annona glabra (ah-NOAN-ah GLAY-brah)
See the Blog
“The” broadleaf tree of the Everglades. There once were forests of massive Pond Apples around the Lake Okeechobee southern rim. Now gone, but you can see smaller Pond Apples in shaded or sunny wetlands commonly in our area. The curious dangling flowers are cream-colored marked inside with red, and pollinated by beetles. The fruits look like a green heart, not good to eat. These trees often make long flexible straight whiplike branches, or “water sprouts.”
Red Maple
Acer rubrum (AY-cer RUE-brum)
A common wetland broadleaf tree with a little fall color. The lobed leaves are opposite. The reddish flowers are small, fleeting, and inconspicuous, and the fruits have wings.
Acer rubrum (AY-cer RUE-brum)
A common wetland broadleaf tree with a little fall color. The lobed leaves are opposite. The reddish flowers are small, fleeting, and inconspicuous, and the fruits have wings.
Saltbush
Baccharis sp. (BACK-ah-rus)
We have three species of Saltbush in our counties. The tough alternate leaves are vaguely wedge-shaped and coarsely toothed. The flowers are very small, white, and packed tightly into numerous small heads. The seedlike fruits have fuzzy white parachutes.
Baccharis sp. (BACK-ah-rus)
We have three species of Saltbush in our counties. The tough alternate leaves are vaguely wedge-shaped and coarsely toothed. The flowers are very small, white, and packed tightly into numerous small heads. The seedlike fruits have fuzzy white parachutes.
Sweet Bay Magnolia
Magnolia virginiana (mag-NOLE-ee-ah vir-gin-ee-AIN-ah)
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In places, an important broadleaf wetland tree. The leaves are fragrant when crushed, and white beneath. Each stem tip has a “dunce cap.” The flowers are white and showy, with separate petals and lots of stamens. The fruits consists of several small separate units, each releasing a red seed.
Magnolia virginiana (mag-NOLE-ee-ah vir-gin-ee-AIN-ah)
See the Blog
In places, an important broadleaf wetland tree. The leaves are fragrant when crushed, and white beneath. Each stem tip has a “dunce cap.” The flowers are white and showy, with separate petals and lots of stamens. The fruits consists of several small separate units, each releasing a red seed.
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 big 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)
See the Blog
Wax Myrtle is a locally common shrub in multiple habitats, most often moist places. The narrow leaves are widest above the middle with big 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.