Thirteen members and guests ventured out to Casperson Beach in search of common and elusive plants. There were lots of them to see including the semi-rare Summer Farewell (Dalea pinnata). Al and I had promised that we would see that well-name bushy plant and several of them were there. It remained fairly cloudy and the heat was moderate. It was an easy walk along the trail that follows the Intracoastal Waterway. That trail is a popular bicycle path and, being Saturday morning, we were careful to avoid speeding bikes.
Beside the Summer Farewell, some of the other plants we identified were: Varnish Leaf (Dodonaea viscosa), Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum), Camphor Weed (Heterotheca subaxillaris), all 3 kinds of Mangroves and a carpet of exotic Mexican Clover (Richardia brasiliensis) along the water's edge. Draping from some of the larger shrubs and trees were long green-orange strands of Love Vine (Cassytha filiformis), (or Dodder, Cuscuta sp.). A heated discussion ensued as we tried to determine which of those parasitic vines we were looking at. (I choose Love Vine.)
These walks are always fun and educational. Come join us!
From top left: Summer Farewell (Dalea pinnata), Varnish Leaf (Dodonaea viscosa), Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum), Camphor Weed (Heterotheca subaxillaris), and Love Vine (Cassytha filiformis) or Dodder (Cuscuta sp.).
90 species listed.
|
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
|
Alicia |
Chapmannia floridana |
|
Arrow feather grass ; Bottlebush threeawn |
Aristida spiciformis |
|
Aster, Silver leafed golden |
Pityopsis graminifolia |
|
Baybean ; Seaside Bean |
Canavalia rosea |
|
Beach Sunflower |
Helianthus debilis |
|
Beautyberry |
Callicarpa americana |
|
Bitterweed |
Helenium amarum |
|
Bloodleaf |
Iresine diffusa |
|
Blueberry, Shiny |
Vaccinium myrsinites |
|
Bluecurls |
Trichostema dichotomum |
|
Brazilian Pepper |
Schinus terebinthifolius |
|
Broom Sedge |
Andropogon glomeratus |
|
Buttonwood |
Conocarpus erectus |
|
Cactus, Prickly Pear |
Opuntia humifusa |
|
Caesarweed |
Urena lobata |
|
Camphorweed |
Heterotheca subaxillaris |
|
Chickweed ; Sanddune Cinchweed (lemon smell) |
Pectis glaucescens |
|
Coastal Groundcherry |
Physalis angustifolia |
|
Coinvine |
Dalbergia ecastaphyllum |
|
Coontie |
Zamia pumila |
|
Cordgrass |
Spartina sp. |
|
Cowpea |
Vigna luteola |
|
Dayflower |
Commelina erecta |
|
Dogfennel |
Eupatorium capillifolium |
|
Dune Greenbriar |
Smilax auriculata |
|
Fern, Bracken |
Pteridium aquilinum |
|
Fiddler's Spurge |
Poinsettia heterophylla |
|
Fingergrass |
Eustachys sp. |
|
Florida Privet |
Forestiera segregata |
|
Frogfruit ; Capeweed ; Matchweed |
Phyla nodiflora |
|
Gayfeather, Chapman's |
Liatris chapmanii |
|
Golden Polypody |
Phlebodium aureum |
|
Goldenrod |
Solidago sp. |
|
Gopher Apple |
Licania michauxii |
|
Grape, Muscadine |
Vitis rotundifolia |
|
Grass, Crowfoot |
Dactyloctenium aegyptium |
|
Gumbo-Limbo |
Bursera simaruba |
|
Hempvine ; Hempweed |
Mikania scandens |
|
Hog Plum |
Ximenia americana |
|
Horseweed |
Conyza canadensis |
|
Lantana |
Lantana camara |
|
Largeflower Mexican Clover |
Richardia grandiflora |
|
Lemon Grass |
Pectis linearifolia |
|
Love Vine |
Cassytha filiformis |
|
Lupine, Skyblue |
Lupinus diffusus |
|
Lyonia, Rusty, Costalplain |
Lyonia fruticosa |
|
Mangrove, Black |
Avicennia germinans |
|
Mangrove, Red |
Rhizophora mangle |
|
Mangrove, White |
Laguncularia racemosa |
|
Marsh Elder ; Beach Elder |
Iva imbricata |
|
Milkweed, Velvetleaf |
Asclepias tomentosa |
|
Necklace Pod |
Sophora tomentosa |
|
Oak, Sand Live |
Quercus geminata |
|
Palafox, Coastalpain |
Palafoxia integrifolia |
|
Palm, Sabal ; Cabbage Palm |
Sabal palmetto |
|
Partridge Pea |
Chamaecrista fasciculata |
|
Passion flower, Corky-stemmed |
Passiflora suberosa |
|
Pawpaw |
Asimina sp. |
|
Peppervine |
Ampelopsis arborea |
|
Phasey bean |
Macroptilium lathyroides |
|
Pineland Heliotrope |
Heliotropium polyphyllum |
|
Poison ivy |
Toxicodendron radicans |
|
Purslane, Pink |
Portulaca pilosa |
|
Ragweed, Common |
Ambrosia artemisiifolia |
|
Railroad Vine |
Ipomoea pes-caprae |
|
Rattlebox |
Crotalaria sp. |
|
Red Cedar |
Juniperus virginiana |
|
Rock-rose |
Helianthemum corymbosum |
|
Rose Natalgrass |
Melinis repens |
|
Saltbush ; Groundsel tree |
Baccharis halimifolia |
|
Sandbur ; Sandspur |
Cenchrus sp. |
|
Sea Blite |
Suaeda linearis |
|
Sea Grape |
Coccoloba uvifera |
|
Sea Oats |
Uniola paniculata |
|
Showy milkwort ; Polygala grandiflora |
Polygala violacea |
|
Southern Guara |
Gaura angustifolia |
|
Spanish Needles |
Bidens alba |
|
Spurred Butterfly Pea |
Centrosema virginianum |
|
Sumac, Winged |
Rhus copallinum |
|
Summer Farewell |
Dalea pinnata |
|
Tarflower |
Bejaria racemosa |
|
Tread softly |
Cnidoscolus stimulosus |
|
Varnishleaf |
Dodonaea viscosa |
|
Virginia Creeper ; Woodbine |
Parthenocissus quinquefolia |
|
Wax Myrtle |
Myrica cerifera |
|
White Head Broom |
Spermacoce verticillata |
|
White Milkpea |
Galactia elliottii |
|
White Twinevine |
Sarcostemma clausum |
|
Wild Sensitive Plant |
Chamaecrista nictitans |
|
Wiregrass |
Aristida stricta |