There were a total of 32 people on our January Field Trip to Red Bug Slough. This large total was because our own Native Plant members (10) were joined by a Sarasota County group who had signed up for a walk with Jeff Weber at the same time and place. Jeff couldn't make it and I agreed to incorporate his group with ours. Also, to add to the total, there were some members of The Peace River Butterfly Society who also joined us.
Al Squires couldn't make the walk but I was fortunately and ably aided by Bill Dunson and Jack Lyons. We split into three groups and walked different trails.
The county has made considerable headway in eliminating the smothering growth of air potato that had blanketed the woody part of the Slough. In fact, Jeff Weber estimates that only 5% - 10% of the original infestation remains. Of course, air potato does die back in the cold weather so it remains to be seen how sparse they will be in the summer.
It was a sunny day and the temperature was warm. Naturally, at this time of year, there were very few plants in bloom. Most everything was brown instead of green. We did see and ID some plants. I think the healthiest plant we saw was the non-native Common Sow Thistle, Sonchus oleraceus, which was bright green and covered with bright yellow blossoms (pictured above).
The last time Al and I walked there we saw an otter swimming in the Slough, but he wasn't there this day. As I mentioned before, Red Bug Slough is an almost native area in the midst of city streets, developments and condos. If you have never been there, it is certainly worth the short trip.
72 plant species listed
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Alligatorflag; Fireflag |
Thalia geniculata |
|
Arrowhead or Duck Potato |
Sagittaria sp. |
|
Aster, Carolina ; Climbing aster |
Symphyotrichum carolinianum |
|
Bay, Loblolly |
Gordonia lasianthus |
|
Beautyberry |
Callicarpa americana |
|
Black Medic |
Medicago lupulina |
|
Blackberry |
Rubus sp. |
|
Brazilian Pepper |
Schinus terebinthifolius |
|
Bristlegrass ; Foxtail grass |
Setaria sp. |
|
Broom Sedge |
Andropogon glomeratus |
|
Caesarweed |
Urena lobata |
|
Carrotwood |
Cupaniopsis anacardioides |
|
Clover, sweet White |
Melilotus albus |
|
Cordgrass, Sand |
Spartina bakeri |
|
Cranesbill |
Geranium carolinianum |
|
Cudweed |
Pseudognaphalium sp. |
|
Dayflower |
Commelina sp. |
|
Dewberry, Southern |
Rubus trivialis |
|
Elderberry |
Sambucus nigra |
|
Eupatorium, Summer |
Eupatorium mohrii |
|
Fern, Boston |
Nephrolepis cordifolia |
|
Fern, Cinnamon |
Osmunda cinnamomea |
|
Fern, Maiden |
Thelypteris sp. |
|
Fern, Swamp |
Blechnum serrulatum |
|
Hop Clover |
Trifolium campestre |
|
Fireweed |
Erechtites hieraciifolius |
|
Floating Hearts |
Nymphoides aquatica |
|
Frogfruit ; Capeweed ; Matchweed |
Phyla nodiflora |
|
Gallberry |
Ilex glabra |
|
Golden Polypody |
Phlebodium aureum |
|
Goldenrod |
Solidago sp. |
|
Grape, Muscadine |
Vitis rotundifolia |
|
Grass, Crowfoot |
Dactyloctenium aegyptium |
|
Grass, Fakahatchee |
Tripsacum dactyloides |
|
Grass, Panic |
Dicanthelium sp. |
|
Green Shrimp Plant |
Ruellia blechum |
|
Guineagrass |
Panicum maximum |
|
Hawksbeard, Asiatic |
Youngia japonica |
|
Hydrilla |
Hydrilla verticillata |
|
Indigo, Hairy |
Indigofera hirsuta |
|
Nutsedge |
Cyperus sp. |
|
Oak, Laurel |
Quercus laurifolia |
|
Oak, Live |
Quercus virginiana |
|
Oak, Water |
Quercus nigra |
|
Palm, Sabal ; Cabbage Palm |
Sabal palmetto |
|
Pellitory |
Parietaria sp. |
|
Pennywort ; Dollar weed |
Hydrocotyle sp. |
|
Peppergrass |
Lepidium virginicum |
|
Pine, Slash |
Pinus elliottii |
|
Pokeberry |
Phytolacca americana |
|
Ragweed, Common |
Ambrosia artemisiifolia |
|
Rosary Pea ; Crab's Eye |
Abrus precatorius |
|
Saw Palmetto |
Serenoa repens |