Throwback to Spring

A 5-8-2016 field trip led by Eva Irene-Ries took us to the Indrio Savannahs Preserve, a mosaic of wet, moist and dry. Three plants stood out …

Dahoon Holly

Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) picture above flourished in moist places.

A small tree with attractive whitish bark, dahoon holly is often used as a landscape plant and red berries now adorn female trees around town.

Dwarf (a.k.a bluestem) Palmetto

Dr. John Kennedy, editor of the Central Florida Palm & Cycad Society newsletter, The Palmateer, pointed out dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) growing in moist soil in the shade of live oaks. Likely, this uncommon palm would have been overlooked without the sharp eyes of a palm expert. Also known as bluestem palmetto, dwarf palmetto grows naturally only in the southeastern U.S. On the west coast of Florida, its range reaches its southern limit in Charlotte County, and on the east coast, it ranges as far south as St. Lucie County, skipping Flager, Brevard, and Indian River counties. This St. Lucie County population was quite healthy, and some individual were flowering or about to flower …

Shiny (& tiny) Blueberry

Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinities) was full of tiny, but yummy, blueberries in sunny, dry areas …

This tiny-leaved plant rarely grows to be more then two feet high and flourishes in acid soils.

As temperatures cool, Indrio Savannahs Preserve is a nearby place to visit …