Only In Florida
by Cindy Conard
Florida is host to a variety of plants and wildlife. Most of which is native to our state as well as a few others. We are, however, lucky enough to have a few of our own which we do not share with anyone else. Unfortunately for some, we are destroying or have destroyed their natural habitat.
The Dusky seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens) made its home in the grassy marshes near Titusville. Between 1987 and 1990, it became extinct. The Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) is the only seaside sparrow in southern Florida. It has the most restrictive range of any bird in North America. Close to extinction, it now resides only in the Everglades National Park and the Big Cypress Preserve.
Listed as a species of special concern, the Florida bog frog (Rana okaloosae) is found only in boggy areas of Okaloosa County in the Florida panhandle.
Another endangered species residing only in our state is the Lower Keys rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri). A subspecies of the Marsh rabbit, it is found only on a few islands in the lower Florida Keys. It is the only rabbit on the federally endangered species list.
The Florida mouse (Podomys floridanus) lives only in Florida although its closest relatives reside in central Mexico. It is the largest mouse native to Florida weighing in at 40 grams, possibly more. They have big black eyes, huge ears and large hind feet. Most often ththe edges and across the wings. The undersides of their fore wings are yellowish and the undersides of their hind wings are brown with fine lines that are black. They are found in hammocks and woodland edges in south Florida and the Keys and have been occasionally seen as far north as Gainesville. They are also endangered.
Florida is home to a variety of grapes. One in particular, the Calusa grape (Vitis shuttleworthii), grows nowhere else. It is found in mixed woods, hammocks, low woods and pinelands in the central and southern part of the state. The alternate leaves are generally heart shaped, brownish green on top and have dense white or rust colored hairs on the undersides. The edges can be either smooth or bluntly toothed. Clusters of small flowers appear in spring. Summertime brings dark red to purplish black grapes.
We even have wildflowers, herbs and pawpaws we can call our own.
Florida dandelion (Berlandiera subacualis) is a perennial herb about 20 inches tall. The leaves are alternate, lobed and appear at the base of the hairy stem flush with the ground. At the top of the stem, are daisy- like yellow flowers with yellowish green centers. They are found throughout the state in sandhills, pinelands and dry disturbed sites.
Goldenaster (Chrysopsis linearifolia) is a biennial herb up to three feet tall. Leaves found along the stem are alternate and narrow. The leaves at the base of the plant appear in a circular cluster around the stem. They are usually absent when the yellow daisy-like flowers appear from September through November. This herb is found mainly in central Florida in scrubs, sandhills and other dry sites.
Goldenaster (Chrysopsis subulata) is a perennial that is about three feet tall. Leaves found at the base of the plant (as well as along the stem) are spoon shaped and often have long white hairs. The daisy-like yellow flowers appear from June until August. It is found in the central part of the state in pine flatwoods and disturbed sites.
Pennyroyal (Piloblephis rigida) is an aromatic evergreen shrub about 12 feet tall. The leaves are opposite and needlelike. Appearing year round are dense heads of pale purple flowers. It is found in sandhills, oak scrub, pinelands and other dry, sandy sites in central and south Florida.
Sandhill wireweed (Polygonella robusta) is a brittle, woody shrub up to three feet tall. The leaves are alternate and clustered. White to pinkish spikelike flower clusters appear from March until November. They are found throughout the state in sandhills and sand pine scrub.
Reticulate pawpaw or Dog banana (Asimina reticulate) is a deciduous shrub about four and one half feet tall. It is densely branched and has oblong leaves that are alternate, leathery and have rounded tips. The top of the leaf is pale green and the underside is grayish with reddish brown veins. Fragrant flowers (singular or clustered) hang down from the upper leaf axils. They appear midspring before or with the leaves and have six creamy white petals. The three inner petals have purplish markings. The edible berry is oblong and yellowish green. This pawpaw occurs in pine flatwoods, coastal scrubs and sandhills in the central and southern part of the state.
Flag pawpaw (Asimina obovata) is a deciduous shrub reaching a height of nine feet. It has oblong leaves that are alternate and have toothless edges. The flowers appear in midspring after the leaves. The drooping flowers are fragrant, creamy white and have six petals. Usually found in clusters of two are yellowish green, oblong berries. It occurs in sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods and coastal hammocks in central and south Florida.
If we preserve their natural habitats, plants and animals endemic to Florida will thrive. If we continue to destroy their habitats, more will become extinct. Our state is unlike any other. Let's keep it that way by preserving what was here before us. We owe it to ourselves and to the creatures with which we share our beautiful state.
Ashton, Ray E. Jr. and Patricia Sawyer Ashton. Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians of Florida: Part Three: The Amphibians. Winward Publishing, Inc. 1988.
Gingerich, Dr. Jerry Lee. Florida's Fabulous Mammals. World Publications. 1994.
Nelson, Gil. The Shrubs and Woody Vines of Florida. Pineapple Press. 1996.
Peterson, Roger Tory. Peterson Field Guides. Eastern Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company. 1980.
Pyle, Robert Michael. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1994
Scott, Shirley L. , Editor. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. The National Geographic Society. 1987.
Taylor, Walter Kingsley. Florida Wildflowers in Tjeir Natural Communities. University Press of Florida. 1998.
Taylor, Walter Kingsley. The Guide to Florida Wildflowers. Taylor Publishing Company. 1992.
Williams, Winston. Florida's Fabulous Birds. World Wide Publications. 1986.
Return to the Main Page
All material on this site © Hernando Chapter of the FNPS. The materials on this website may be copied and distributed without permission, provided that it is used for non-commercial, informational or educational purposes, and you acknowledge this site and the Hernando Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society as the source of publication.