Gulf Shores State Park Wildflower and Plant Identification Guide

Gulf Shores State Park Wildflower and Plant Identification Guide

Notes:

About this Book: About using this book: o This book is designed for support to naturalists, interpreters, volunteers and visitors for identification of common wildflowers and plants located in Gulf Shores State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. o The tan box in the upper corner lists both common and scientific name of the plant. o The gray box below the plant photograph provides information about the plant. o The dark gray box at the bottom of the page identifies the source(s) for the information posted. o Of note: Many plants are known by several different common names and spellings so you may find conflicting information among sources.

Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches, Texas July 2016 ISBN 978-1-68419-833-7 Editor: Pat Stephens Williams, Ph.D. Co-Editor: Angela Sutherland Research Assistants: Lana Welford and Ashley Johnson Photographic Images: Fred Nation C.J. Jarmon SuzAnne Pendley Kelly Reetz Roger Reetz

Notes:

Table of Contents January • Columned Stinkhorn • Dahoon Holly • Dandelion

pg. 3 pg. 4 pg. 5

February • Devil’s Walking Stick • Square Flower • Wax Myrtle

pg. 9 pg. 10 pg. 11

March • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Blue-eyed Grass Carolina Jessamine Red Chokeberry Columned Stinkhorn Dewberry False Rosemary Four-petal St. John’s Wort Manyflower Pennywort Henbit Deadnettle Yellow Thistle Moss Verbena Black Medick Poison Ivy Rattlesnake Root Salt Pennywort Swamp Titi Turnsole

pg. 15 pg. 16 pg. 17 pg. 18 pg. 19 pg. 20 pg. 21 pg. 22 pg. 22 pg. 23 pg. 24 pg. 24 pg. 25 pg. 26 pg. 27 pg. 28 pg. 29

Alligator Weed Bluestar Chokeberry Cinnamon Fern Coral Honeysuckle Crimson Clover Crossvine Indigo Milky Lizard’s Tail Netted Chain Fern Pinewoods Milkweed

pg. 33 pg. 34 pg. 35 pg. 36 pg. 37 pg. 38 pg. 39 pg. 40 pg. 41 pg. 42 pg. 43

April • • • • • • • • • • •

i

Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • •

Prickly Pear Resurrection Fern Royal Fern Shining Fetterbush Sparkleberry Spiny Nightshade Texas Vervain Tomentose Gopherweed Wild White Clover Yaupon Holly

pg. 44 pg. 45 pg. 46 pg. 47 pg. 48 pg. 49 pg. 50 pg. 51 pg. 52 pg. 53

• • • • • • •

Common Skullcap Great Tickseed Evergreen Blueberry Nodding Ladies’ Tresses Pickerelweed Carolina Redroot Saw Palmetto

pg. 57 pg. 58 pg. 59 pg. 60 pg. 61 pg. 62 pg. 63

• • • • • • • • • • • •

American Beautyberry Beach Morning Glory Black Titi Chinese Tallow Coral Bean Dewberry Dogfennel Golden Canna Hairy Laurel Lantana Muscadine Sandhill Milkweed

pg. 67 pg. 68 pg. 69 pg. 70 pg. 71 pg. 72 pg. 73 pg. 74 pg. 75 pg. 76 pg. 77 pg. 78

• • • • • • •

American Beautyberry Aster Beach Morning Glory Bitterweed Buckwheat Titi Bull Tongue Carolina Redroot

May

June

`

July pg. 81 pg. 82 pg. 83 pg. 84 pg. 85 pg. 86 pg. 87

ii

Table of Contents July (Cont.)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Coastal Sandspur Common Blanket Flower Common Camphorweed Common Cattail Devil’s Walking Stick Four-petal St. John’s Wort Gallberry Swamp Hibiscus Muscadine Partridge Pea Pinewoods Milkweed Poison Ivy Pokeweed Purple Morning Glory Red Basil Redbay Saltmarsh Mallow Saw Palmetto Scarlet Hibiscus Spiny Nightshade Spurred Butterfly Pea St. Andrew’s Cross Swamp Sawgrass White Prickly Poppy Winged Sumac Yaupon Holly Weak-leaf Yucca

pg. 88 pg. 89 pg. 90 pg. 91 pg. 92 pg. 93 pg. 94 pg. 95 pg. 96 pg. 97 pg. 98 pg. 99 pg. 100 pg. 101 pg. 102 pg. 103 pg. 104 pg. 105 pg. 106 pg. 107 pg. 108 pg. 109 pg. 110 pg. 111 pg. 112 pg. 113 pg. 114

Aster Buttonbush Climbing Hempweed Common Partridge Pea Blazing Star Fragrant Water Lily Giant Foxtail Swamp Hibiscus Gopher Apple

pg. 117 pg. 118 pg. 119 pg. 120 pg. 121 pg. 122 pg. 123 pg. 124 pg. 125

August • • • • • • • • •

iii

Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • •

Meadow Beauty Narrowleaf Ironweed Purple Morning Glory Red Basil Sandhill Wild Buckwheat Seaside Evening Primrose Slenderleaf Clammyweed Smooth Trailing Lespedeza Spurred Butterfly Pea Turnsole Water Spider Orchid Winged Sumac

pg. 126 pg. 127 pg. 128 pg. 129 pg. 130 pg. 131 pg. 132 pg. 133 pg. 134 pg. 135 pg. 136 pg. 137

September • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

American Beautyberry Arrowleaf Morning Glory Aster Boneset Bushy Broom Grass Dahoon Holly False Flowering Spurge Balloon Vine Persimmon Purple Gerardia Small Flower Morning Glory Smooth Yellow False Foxglove Swamp Loosestrife Yellow Pencil Flower

pg. 141 pg. 142 pg. 143 pg. 144 pg. 145 pg. 146 pg. 147 pg. 148 pg. 149 pg. 150 pg. 151 pg. 152 pg. 153 pg. 155

October • • • • • • • • •

Arrowleaf Morning Glory Bushy Broom Grass Chinese Tallow Snowy Jointweed Cypress Vine Dogfennel Goldenrod Groundsel Venus’ Pride

pg. 157 pg. 158 pg. 159 pg. 160 pg. 161 pg. 162 pg. 163 pg. 164 pg. 165

iv

Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Blazing Star Mexican Clover Passion Flower Primrose Willow Purple False Foxglove Slender Sea Purslane Smooth Yellow False Foxglove Spurred Butterfly Pea Sugarcane Plume Grass Swamp Titi Tickseed Sunflower Vanilla Leaf/Deer’s tongue Wax Myrtle

pg. 166 pg. 167 pg. 168 pg. 169 pg. 170 pg. 171 pg. 172 pg. 173 pg. 174 pg. 175 pg. 176 pg. 177 pg. 178

November • False Rosemary • Poison Ivy • Tomentose Gopherweed

pg. 181 pg. 182 pg. 183

December • • • • •

Chinese Tallow Common Prickly Pear w/fruit Dahoon Holly Sandhill Rosemary Winged Sumac

pg. 187 pg. 188 pg. 189 pg. 190 pg. 191

v

Notes:

1

Notes:

Columned Stinkhorn is a type of mushroom common to the Gulf Coast area. It has no leaves or stems, but emerges with 2-5 hollow column-like arms that arise from the spore partially underground. The inner surfaces of the arms are covered with stinkhorn slime that has a foul odor which attracts flies. The flies then disperse the mushroom’s spores.

Source: Kuo, M. September 2006. Clathrus columnatus. http://www.mushroomexpert.com/clathrus_columnatus.html

3

Dahoon Holly is an evergreen that normally grows between 20-30 feet in height and is found in places with moist soils.

The leaves are small and dark green and in the winter the female trees produce bright red berries. These berries are eaten by native wildlife but are not tasteful to humans.

Source: Gilman, E. and Watson, D. . November 1993. Ilex cassine: Dahoon Holly. Accessed from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st299

4

Dandelions are considered a common weed in the United States. They produce a yellow flower with many petals. Seeds are produced with little tufts on them that get carried away with the wind. Many humans blow the seeds off of the dandelion while making wishes. Although it is normally seen as a weed, dandelions have many culinary and medicinal uses.

The leaves can be used in salads and dried roots were used to make a coffee substitute in World War II. It can also be used to treat rheumatism and as a blood purifier.

Source: Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Taraxacum officinale. Accessed from http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/taraxacum-officinale-dandelion

5

Notes:

7

Notes:

Devil’s Walkingstick is a native woody deciduous shrub or small tree that generally grows to a height of 12-15 feet, but can grow up to 20 feet tall. Its prominent identifying characteristics are the prickles found on the stems as well as the large bi-pinnately compound leaves which can be up to 3-4 feet long and wide. In the summer, Devil’s Walkingstick blooms with umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers that attract honeybees. These flowers are then followed by purplish-black fruits called drupes, which are commonly eaten by northern cardinals, cedar waxwings, striped skunk, red fox, and even black bears. Native Americans used the roots and other parts of this plant for many medicinal uses including inducing vomiting.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. November 2013. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Aralia spinosa. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ARSP2 Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey 1975 Cherokee Plants and Their Uses -- A 400 Year History. Sylva, N.C. Herald Publishing Co. (p. 31, 32) Accessed from http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Aralia+spinosa.

9

Square Flower is found along coastal dunes and sandy open ground. It blooms from April through October and can be identified by its small white flower clusters that grow in a square shape. The genus name Paronychia roughly translates to “near the nail� because the plant was used in the past to treat abscesses at the ends of fingers or toes near the nail, known as whitlow or felon.

Source: Tenaglia, Dan. June 2004. Paronychia erecta Shinners-square flower. Accessed from http://alabamaplants.com/Whiteopp/Paronychia_erecta_page.html.

10

Wax Myrtle is a native, multi-stemmed, evergreen shrub that grows 6-12 feet tall. The shrub is widely used in landscaping and provides screen covering for many animals moving through the woods as well as a place for some birds to nest.

When crushed, the leaves have a spicy smell to them. The gray-blue berries are a source of food for some wildlife.

Colonists used to remove the gray, waxy layer from the berries to use it to make candles.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. December 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Morella cerifera. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=moce2.

11

Notes:

13

Notes:

Blue-eyed Grass is a native perennial herb with beautiful starshaped blue or blue-violet flowers that bloom between May and July. It grows to a height of 1-1 ½ feet tall, and is found in meadows and open woods. In the past this plant has been used to create a root tea to treat diarrhea in children, and a plant tea was used to treat stomach aches.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2012. NPIN: Native Plant Database Sisyrinchium angustifolium. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SIAN3.

15

Carolina Jessamine, also known as Evening Trumpetflower, is a twining evergreen vine that can grow between 10-20 feet long. This high climbing vine can climb trees, fences, structures, or if not climbing, can develop into a mound of tangled stems. Aromatic trumpet-shaped yellow flowers bloom on this vine in the spring and sometimes also in the fall.

Although the flowers are fragrant and beautiful, this plant’s flowers, leaves, and roots are poisonous if consumed by humans or livestock.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. March 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Gelsemium sempervirens. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GESE.

16

Red Chokeberry is a native perennial shrub found in pine bottomlands and swamps. It blooms in the spring with clusters of white five-petaled flowers with reddish-pink anthers. In the fall, the shrub’s leaves turn orange-red, and will have bright red pear-shaped berries.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Photinia pyrifolia. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PHPY4.

17

Columned Stinkhorn is a type of mushroom common to the Gulf Coast area. It has no leaves or stems, but emerges with 2-5 hollow column-like arms that arise from the spore partially underground. The inner surfaces of the arms are covered with stinkhorn slime that has a foul odor which attracts flies. The flies then disperse the mushroom’s spores.

Source: Kuo, Michael. September 2006. Clathrus columnatus. Accessed from http://www.mushroomexpert.com/clathrus_columnatus.html.

18

Dewberry plants are in the rose family and are covered with tons of prickles. The leaves are rather small and the flowers are usually white. The fruit is edible; however, despite the name it is not a true berry. The fruit is actually a compound drupe.

When ripe the fruits are dark purple to black and commonly eaten raw or used to make jelly/jam or pies.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. January 2007. NPIN: Native Plant Database Rubus trivialis. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RUTR.

19

False Rosemary is a shrub found in Alabama and west Florida. It is commonly found in dry, sandy places such as the backsides of dunes. It produces small white or lavender flowers between March and November. False Rosemary is used in landscaping in sites that need limited water usage or in beach restoration projects to keep the sand from blowing away.

Source: Tenaglia, Dan. May 2005. False rosemary; Conradina canescens. Accessed from http://alabamaplants.com/Pinkopp/Conradina_canescens_page.html.

20

Four-petaled St. John’s Wort produces flowers with four, very bright yellow petals. While St. John’s Wort can flower most months of the year, late spring is the time for this shrub.

Extracts have been used for medicinal purposes such as an antidepressant.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. December 2012. NPIN: Native Plant Database Hypericum tetrapetalum. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HYTE4.

21

Henbit

Pennywort

Manyflower Pennywort is an unusual plant with umbrellashaped leaves. It can be found in areas with moist soils as a ground cover, and can also grow in shallow water. This plant blooms between March and October with spherical clusters of small white flowers.

Henbit Deadnettle is a non-native plant that came from Europe and Asia, but is now spread across the entire United States. This plant is generally considered a weed and can be found in a variety of different habitats. It has a square stem and tubular two-lipped purple flowers that bloom from March through August.

Source1: University of Texas at Austin. January 2007. NPIN: Native Plant Database Hydrocotyle umbellata. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HYUM. Source2:University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2014. Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). Accessed from http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/ WEEDS/henbit.html.

22

Yellow Thistle, sometimes called Horrid or Horrible Thistle, is a tall growing herbaceous plant that can grow between 1-5 ½ feet tall. This plant has large reddish-purple or yellow blooms and very spiny leaves. This plant is important to pollinators such as bumblebees, butterflies, and moths.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. June 2010. NPIN: Native Plant Database Cirsium horridulum. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CIHO2.

23

Moss Verbena Black Medick

Moss Verbena is a naturalized herbaceous groundcover with fern-like mossy leaves. It can spread between 3-6 feet across the ground, and has clusters of lilac colored flowers in the spring.

Black Medick, also known as Yellow Trefoil, is a naturalized weed with clover-like leaves. It has small clusters of yellow flowers that bloom from spring into summer. This clover, like other clovers, can fix nitrogen in the soil.

Source1: Plant Guide.org. No Date. YELLOW TREFOIL (Medicago lupulina L.). Accessed from http://www.plantguide.org/yellow-trefoil.html.

Source2: Moore, Tony. August 2001. Verbena tenuisecta, Verbena pulchella, Moss verbena, Verbenaceae Family. Accessed from http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/ aridplants/Verbena_tenuisecta.html.

24

Poison Ivy is known to cause an itchy skin reaction; which is why the saying “leaves of three, let it be!� came about. While some humans do not have any reaction, most humans do react with varying degrees of severity. Poison Ivy has three forms: as a hairy vine, a small shrub, or as ground cover. The mature leaves range in colors of green, yellow, red and orange; with each leaf containing three leaflets on one stalk.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. January 2007. NPIN: Native Plant Database Toxicodendron radicans. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TORA2.

25

Rattlesnake Root is a perennial wildflower that can grow between 2-6 feet tall. Leaves on this plant can be variable in shape. This plant is named after its tuberous roots that resemble a rattlesnake’s tail.

Source: Hilty, John. January 2007. Prenanthes altissima (Tall White Lettuce). Woodland Wildflowers of Illinois. Accessed from http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/tlwh_lettuce.htm.

26

Salt Pennywort, also known as Largeleaf Pennywort, is very similar in appearance to Manyflower Pennywort. They both have clusters of tiny white flowers, but Salt Pennywort has larger umbrella-shaped leaves. Salt and Manyflower Pennywort can be weedy in some areas.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2007. NPIN: Native Plant Database Hydrocotyle bonariensis. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HYBO.

27

Swamp Titi is a small tree with a cinnamon trunk and dark green leaves that will turn red in the fall. Swamp Titi produces small, white flowers on string-like stems that eventually turn into golden-yellow seeds. It can be found throughout the southeastern United States and South America. When bees use nectar from their flowers, it produces a very dark honey.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. November 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Cyrilla racemiflora. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CYRA.

28

Turnsole, also known as Indian Heliotrope, is a non-native weed that is native of Asia. It has a hairy stem and can grow to a height between 6-20 inches. Flowers are pale-violet and fade to white as the flower gets older. This plant is used as a medicinal plant in many places across the world to treat a variety of ailments including warts and inflammations.

Source: Gurib-Fakim, A., 2006. Heliotropium indicum L. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(1): Medicinal plants/Plantes mĂŠdicinales 1. [CD-Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed from http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/ Heliotropium%20indicum_En.htm.

29

Notes:

31

Notes:

Alligator Weed is an invasive species that originated in South America. It can grow in a variety of habitats, but is usually found in water or along shorelines. This plant can form interwoven mats that can reduce light penetration, crowd out native species, and impede recreational activities.

Source: USDA NISIC. November 2015. Aquatic Species: Alligator weed. Accessed from http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/alligatorweed.shtml.

33

Bluestar is a native herbaceous perennial. The flower clusters have more of a blue color the closer they are to the bud stage.

If the plant is in full sun the flower can fade to nearly white when fully open. This plant has a milky sap that although nonharmful to humans, reduces predation by deer. This particular species grows in sandhills, pine barrens, and rocky shores.

Plants growing in full sun will usually have beautiful amber colored foliage in the fall.

Source: Darke, R. June 2005. Amsonia in Cultivation. Accessed from http://www.rickdarke.com/Amsonia.pdf.

34

Chokeberry is a deciduous shrub that grows to a height of approximately 6-8 feet. This plant blooms in spring with white or pinkish flowers. The fruit is a glossy, red berry that matures in late summer and persists through fall and into winter.

Chokeberry also has beautiful red foliage in the fall.

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden. No Date. Aronia arbutifolia . Accessed from http:// www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b420

35

Cinnamon Fern is native to swampy areas where it can form huge clonal colonies. They are named by their central fertile fronds which turn a cinnamon color. This plant has densely matted roots which are commonly harvested and used as a substrate for propagating orchids.

Source: Rook, Earl J.S. 2002. Osmunda cinnamomea: Cinnamon Fern. Accessed fromhttp://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/ferns/osmundacinn.html

36

Coral Honeysuckle, which is also known as Trumpet Honeysuckle, is a climbing vine with beautiful tubular flowers that are reddish-pink on the outside and yellow on the inside. It blooms generally from spring throughout the summer. This plant is not as aggressive as Japanese Honeysuckle, and is frequently visited by hummingbirds and butterflies.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. June 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Lonicera sempervirens. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOSE.

37

Crimson Clover is an annual with fuzzy stems and leaves.

The plant grows from 1-3 feet tall. It has trifoliate leaves, with either egg or heart-shaped leaflets, and a conic or cylindrical red flower head that blooms in the spring and throughout the summer. This plant is used as erosion control in roadsides, and is heavily used in agriculture as a cover crop between crop rotations, a soil nitrogen fixer, as well as, for livestock forage, silage, and hay.

Source: USDA. February 2013. Plant Guide Crimson Clover Trifolium incarnatum. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Accessed from http://www.plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_trin3.pdf.

38

Crossvine is a semi-evergreen, thick, woody vine native to the southeastern United States. This vine blooms in the spring with large fragrant orange-red and yellow trumpet shaped flowers.

This vine is used frequently in landscaping on fences, pillars, or large trellises. In the past Native Americans used the bark and roots to treat a variety of ailments, including diptheria.

Source: University of North Florida. 2015. Plants of the UNF Campus Bignonia capreolata - Cross vine. Accessed from http:// www.unf.edu/physicalfacilities/landscape/plants/Bignonia_capreolata_-_Cross_vine.aspx

39

Indigo Milky is a medium size blue to bluish-gray mushroom with a cap width between 2-6 inches. When cut, the milk, or latex, oozes out a dark blue color that turns green as it is exposed to the air. This mushroom is edible, however there is some debate on how palatable it is. Some describe it as having a grainy coarse texture, and being slightly bitter with a peppery taste. The mushrooms are found in oak and pine forests where they have a symbiotic relationship with tree roots.

Source: Kuo, M. March 2011. Lactarius indigo. Retrieved from: http://www./mushroomexpert.comlactarius_indigo.html

40

Lizard’s Tail, also known as Water Dragon, is a perennial that grows in wetland and streamside areas with moist soils.

They grow to a height of 1-3 feet. The plant has solitary spikes of tiny, fragrant, white flowers which are on a stalk that droops at the tip.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. September 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Saururus cernuus. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflowercenter. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SACE.

41

Netted Chain Fern is native to eastern North America. This fern is found in woodland swamps and bogs. They grow between 1.5-2.0 feet tall and have 8-10 pairs of lance-shaped leaflets.

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden. NO Date. Woodwardia areolata. Accessed from http:// www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=v200.

42

Pinewoods Milkweed, also known as Sandhill Milkweed, has pink to white flowers that bloom from March through June. It is found in dry areas with sandy soils, often in or near open forests. This plant has a spreading form, and its stems spread flat or nearly flat to the ground. Another distinguishing characteristic is the prominent purple veins in the leaves. This milkweed is an important source of food for bees and butterflies, including the monarch butterfly.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. August 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Asclepias humistrata. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASHU3.

43

Prickly Pear is a native cactus that grows in sandy or rocky soils. It has yellow blooms from April through July. The leaf pads, fruit, and seeds of this cactus are edible. Native Americans poulticed peeled pads on wounds, drank pad tea for lung ailments, and applied the juice of the cactus to warts.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. June 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Opuntia humifusa. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OPHU.

44

Resurrection Fern is an epiphytic fern that typically grows on trees where it collects water and nutrients from the outer surface of the tree’s bark. It can also occasionally be found growing on rocks and dead logs. The Resurrection Fern is named because in times of drought the fronds will curl up and appear dried out, brown-grey in color, and look as if the plant is dead. However, with just a little bit of water the plant will recover, or “resurrect,” to a bright green lush state in less than 24 hours.

Source: Nelson, J.S. 2007. Plant Palette Resurrection Fern. University of Illinois Extension. Accessed from http:// web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/palette/070218.html.

45

Royal Fern is a tall native perennial fern that grows in wet areas and can be shrub-like in appearance. It normally grows between 2-3 feet in height, but in optimal growing conditions can grow up to 6 feet tall. The roots of this plant are used to create Osmunda fiber, which is used as a growing medium for orchids and other epiphytic plants. In the spring, fiddleheads and young fronds can be a shade of orange or wine reddishbrown in color.

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden. No Date. Plant Finder: Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis. Accessed from http:// www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=z890.

46

Shining Fetterbush, also known as Shinyleaf or Fetterbush, is an evergreen shrub with shiny oval-shaped leaves that grow 3-5 feet tall. It has fragrant clusters of pink, pinkish-white, or almost red urn-shaped flowers that bloom between March, April, and May.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Lyonia lucida. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LYLU3.

47

Sparkleberry, also known as Farkleberry and Tree Sparkleberry, can be found in the form of a shrub or small tree growing 12-15 feet tall. As a shrub it is found with many branches that are often crooked in growth. In the south it is an evergreen plant, but in the north it can be deciduous, losing its leaves every winter. It blooms between March and June with clusters of fragrant white bell-shaped flowers. After flowering it forms small inedible black berries that persist throughout the seasons.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Vaccinium arboreum. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VAAR.

48

Spiny Nightshade is a non-native herbaceous plant that originated from South America and can become weedy in some areas. It grows to approximately 3 feet tall with leaves that are covered in prickles. Flowers are white with five yellow anthers in the center. When the fruit is ripe, it will turn a bright red and the calyx will peel back to expose it to birds and wildlife to eat and disperse the seed. In the United Kingdom, it is used as a trap crop to trap potato cyst nematodes and prevent them from infesting potato crops.

Source: Vorontsova, M.S. and S. Knapp. 2014. Solanum sisymbriifolium. Solanaceae Source. Accessed from http:// solanaceaesource.org/content/solanum-sisymbriifolium.

49

Texas Vervain is small shrub-like perennial with square hairy stems that stands between 1-2 .5 feet tall. The flowers bloom between March and June and are in long clusters around the stem from the bottom up. There are usually between 6 to 20 trumpet-shaped flowers of a bluish to lavender color blooming at the same time.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. September 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database Verbena halei. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VEHA.

50

Tomentose Gopherweed is a native woody herbaceous plant that blooms between April and May. It grows in sand hills and open woods with sandy soil to a height of 1-3 feet tall. When in bloom, this plant has yellow two-lipped flowers.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. August 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database Baptisia lanceolata. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BALA3.

51

Wild White Clover, also known as Carolina Clover, is a native clover that forms a prostrate mat across the ground. The Trifolium genus name comes from the compound leaves composed of three leaflets, and very rarely the elusive flour leaf clover may be found. The leaves are hairy and blooms can vary in color from white, bluish, or lavender.

Source: Bogler, David. April 2010. Trifolium carolinianum. Accessed from http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/169958-Trifolium-carolinianum.

52

Yaupon is a native multi-stemmed evergreen shrub or tree that grows 8-15 feet tall. Yaupon blooms April through May with small white flowers that have four petals. The fruits are shiny, red-orange drupes that stay on the plant into winter. The leaves were used by Native Americans in the Southeastern United States to create a tea that the Europeans called “black drink.�

The Europeans noted that those who drank large quantities of the drink vomited. This led to its scientific name becoming Illex vomitoria. Yaupon by itself does not induce vomiting, so it is believed that the cause was either the sheer volume being consumed or other herbs added to the tea.

Source: Keener, Brian R. January 2016. Illex vomitoria. Alabama Plant Atlas. Accessed from http://www.floraofalabama.org/Default.aspx.

53

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55

Notes:

Common Skullcap, also known as Helmet Skullcap or Hyssop Skullcap, is a native perennial herb that can be found growing on a diverse range of sites including sandhills, pine barrens, wet meadows, and along roadsides. The plant has a pubescent (hairy) stem and has large bluish purple flowers that bloom from May through August.

Source: Tenaglia, Dan. May 2005. Scutellaria integrifolia L.- Helmet Skullcap. Accessed from http://alabamaplants.com/Blueopp/Scutellaria_integrifolia_page.html.

57

Great Tickseed is a native perennial herb that grows in a variety of different locations from woodlands, to sandhills, and old fields. It grows between 1-3 feet tall, has large daisy-like yellow blooms that can be up to 3 inches across, and blooms between May and August.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database Coreopsis major. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COMA6.

58

Evergreen Blueberry, also known as Shiny Blueberry, has shiny green leaves and white or whitish-pink urn-shaped flowers that bloom between February and April. It is a small native shrub that grows to about 2 feet tall. The fruits are edible shiny berries that change color from red, to blue, and finally bluish-black when ripe.

Source: Tenaglia, Dan. November 2004. Vaccinium myrsinites - Shiny Blueberry.

Accessed from http://www.alabamaplants.com/Whitealt/Vaccinium_myrsinites_page.html.

59

Nodding Ladies’ Tresses are a native perennial herb that is a member of the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It can be found in fields, damp meadows, and grassy swamps. This plant grows between 1-2 feet tall and has grass-like leaves that grow 8-10 inches in length. The flowers bloom sometime between May and August, and form 2-4 spiraling rows of fragrant small white flowers that are slightly angled down as if they are “nodding.” Past medicinal uses of this plant included a wash to strengthen infants and a plant tea used as a diuretic for urinary disorders.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database Spiranthes cernua. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SPCE.

60

Pickerelweed is a native aquatic plant that grows in shallow, slow moving water, often in the same type of habitat as the pickerel fish they are named after. It grows between 1-3 feet tall, has heart-shaped leaves, and blooms sometime between May and September with a spike of small violet-blue flowers.

The fruit can be eaten raw or dried and added to cereal for a nutty flavor.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. April 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Pontederia cordata. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=POCO14.

61

Carolina Redroot is a native plant that prefers sandy soils with plenty of water. During the spring and summer, redroot begins to flower. The flowers are small with the outer petals being white and the inner petals being yellow and woolly on a stalk high above the leaves. The flattened leaves in a fan-like appearance are an identifying characteristic of this plant. The name Redroot comes from the roots being a red-orange color.

The seeds of this plant are a favorite of sandhill cranes.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. September 2013. NPIN: Native Plant Database Lachnanthes caroliana. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LACA5.

62

Source: Charles T. and John R. Bryson, Bugwood.org

Saw Palmetto is a native evergreen shrub with fan-shaped leaves that can be up to 3 feet across. It has fragrant, small white flowers that bloom between May and July. This plant can be found in sand dunes, savannas, and pine forests. Saw Palmetto is the larval host plant for the palmetto skipper.

Skippers are similar to butterflies and moths, but they have a darting erratic flight. When they land they keep their wings closed vertically like a butterfly, but their bodies resemble that of a moth.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. September 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database Serenoa repens. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SERE2.

63

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65

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American Beautyberry is a multi-stem shrub that grows to about 4 feet tall in moist soils, typically in the shade. It has fuzzy, green leaves and produces bunches of bright purple berries on the branches that are very easy to spot when fruiting in the fall. Wildlife often enjoys snacking on these berries and humans can, too. Their flavor is very light, but the berries can be cooked down and turned into jelly.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. January 2016. NPIN: Native Plant Database Callicarpa americana. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAAM2.

67

Beach Morning Glory, also referred to as the Railroad Vine, grows in large mats near the coast. The plant has branches that can reach up to 33 feet long and has alternate leaves. The flowers can range from white to pink to violet, but tend to be darker closer to the base of each flower.

Source: USDA. Plant Profile Ipomoea L. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Accessed from http:// plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=IPOMO

68

Black Titi a shrub or small tree, is known for its pollen and considered some of the very best for making fine honey. The best habitat to find this species is in low, damp places near stream banks. The fruit is a drupe and the flowers occur in late spring and early summer. The flower colors are white to pink; a single flower is on a stalk and on a flowering stem.

Source: Searcy, Darryl N. No Date. Black Titi - Buckwheat Tree, Cliftonia monophylla. Accessed from: http://wildflowers.jdcc.edu/ Black%20Titi.html.

69

Chinese Tallow is a small tree that grows rapidly in almost any condition throughout the United States. In the fall its leaves turn a deep red and in the spring it blooms strings of small yellow flowers that turn into round, lobed, white fruit that resembles popcorn. Benjamin Franklin wanted to use the waxy coating from the fruits to make candles and as a source of energy, but instead, it has become a very aggressive invasive species. Contributing to its success as an invasive, the Chinese Tallow is allelopathic, meaning it creates its own chemicals that it releases into the ground. The chemicals surrounding its roots make it difficult for other plants to continue growing near it.

Source: Langeland, K. and Enloe, S. . 2015. Natural Area Weeds: Chinese Tallow. Accessed from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag148

70

Coral Bean is a favorite food for hummingbirds. This is a shade and drought tolerant species that grows well in acidic and sandy soils. The flowers are red to dark pink and flower in the spring and summertime. Coral Bean fruit grows in pods reaching up to 6 inches long.

Source: Florida Native Plant Society. 2013. Native Plant Owners Manual: Erythrina herbacea- Coral bean. Accessed from http://www.fnps.org/assets/pdf/pubs/ erythrina_herbacea_coralbean.pdf Source: Eat the Weeds. 2014. Coral Bean: Hummingbird Fast Food. Accessed from http://www.eattheweeds.com/coral-bean-humming-bird-fast-food/

71

Dewberry plants reside in the rose family and are covered with tons of prickles. The leaves are rather small and the flowers are usually white. The fruit is edible; however, despite the name it is not a true berry. The fruit is actually a compound drupe. When ripe the fruits are dark purple to black and commonly eaten raw or used to make jelly/jam or pies.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. January 2007. NPIN: Native Plant Database Rubus trivialis. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RUTR.

72

Dogfennel is native to North America. It grows straight up and can reach up to 10 feet tall. The woody base can have many stems that are hairy and rough. The bases of the stems are usually a reddish purple or white. Very small greenish to white flowers can be seen throughout the year on this plant.

The leaves are edible and the entire Dogfennel plant can be used to treat bites from insects and reptiles.

Source: Everglades Research and Education Center. 2016. Weed Identification: Dogfennel. University of Florida. Accessed from http://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/weeds/dog%20fennel.html.

Source: Small, L. . December 2005. Eupatorium capillifolium. Accessed from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?

LatinName=Eupatorium+capillifolium

73

Golden Canna is a native aquatic species that prefers edges of waterways, but has also become a popular household yard flower. The easiest way to identify this plant is its large showy yellow flowers. The leaves of the Golden Canna grow in a spiral and can be up to 2 feet long. The canna produces fruit which is a large three-part capsule that is quite rough.

Source: UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2015. Canna flaccida. University of Florida. Accessed from http:// plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/canna-flaccida.

74

Hairy Laurel is a very small shrub that grows in areas with plenty of sun. It is a native perennial of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. The pink flowers bloom beginning in the middle of spring. Bees, butterflies, and birds all are attracted to the flowers.

Source: USDA. Plant Profile Kalmia hirsuta Walter hairy laurel. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Accessed from http://www.plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=KAHI2.

Source: Dave’s Garden. 2010. Guides and Information: Sweet Wicky, Hairy Laurel. Accessed from http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/95526/.

75

Lantana is an abundant shrub that loves the sun and grows best in poor, sandy soils. Beginning in mid-summer the clusters of flowers begin to bloom in shades of red, yellow, and orange. The nectar produced is favored by butterflies, and the small black drupes are eaten by many birds; however, the leaves are poisonous to livestock and humans!

Source: Texas Agriculture Program. 2002. Benny Simpon’s Texas Native Shrubs: Texas Lantana, Lantana. Texas A&M University. Accessed from http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/lantanaurticoid.htm.

76

Muscadine is grapevine species native to the southeastern United States. The vines produce grapes varying from bronze to black in color when ripe and usually ripen beginning in August. The grapes can be eaten raw, used to make wine, jams, and other edibles. An interesting fact about Muscadine is the production of antioxidants by the plant acts as a natural resistance to most fungal and bacterial infections.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. September 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database Vitis rotundifolia. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VIRO3.

77

Sandhill Milkweed, also known as Pinewoods Milkweed, has pink to white flowers that bloom from March through June. It is found in dry areas with sandy soils often in or near open forests. This plant has a spreading form, and its stems are usually flat or nearly flat to the ground. Another distinguishing characteristic is that it has prominent purple veins in the leaves. This Milkweed is an important source of food for bees and butterflies, including the monarch butterfly.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. August 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Asclepias humistrata. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASHU3.

78

79

Notes:

American Beautyberry is a multi-stem shrub that grows to about 4 feet tall in moist soils, typically in the shade. It has fuzzy, green leaves and produces bunches of bright purple berries on the branches that are very easy to spot in the fall.

Wildlife often enjoys snacking on these berries and humans can, too. Their flavor is very light, but the berries can be cooked down and turned into jelly.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. January 2016. NPIN: Native Plant Database Callicarpa americana. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAAM2.

81

Asters come in a wide variety of beautiful colors. They are a perennial wildflower that is found across North America, Europe, and Asia. The name Aster has Greek origins and means “star.� These star-like flowers are very complicated.

The center of the flower is actually a cluster of numerous tiny tubular flowers surrounded by petals.

Source: The Flower Expert. 2016. Aster flower. Accessed from http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowersandseasons/aster.

82

Beach Morning Glory, also referred to as the Railroad Vine, grows in large mats near the coast. The plant has branches that can reach up to 33 feet long and has alternate leaves. The flowers can range from white to pink to violet, but tend to be darker closer to the base of each flower.

Source: USDA. Plant Profile Ipomoea L. United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Accessed from http:// plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=IPOMO

83

Bitterweed, a typical type of aster, has bright yellow flowers, with up to ten petals sprawling out from the dome of disk flowers in the middle. The name comes from the bitter taste and odor given by the plant. Also called sneezeweed.

Source: Wildflowers of the United States. August 2013. Bitterweed, Bitter Sneezeweed, Yellowdicks - Helenium amarum. Accessed from http://uswildflowers.com/ detail.php?SName=Helenium%20amarum

84

Buckwheat Titi is known for its pollen as a key ingredient for fine honey. The best habitat to find this species is in low, damp places near stream banks. The flowers occur in late spring and early summer and are white to pink. A single flower is on a stalk and on a flowering stem. The fruit of the Buckwheat Titi is a drupe. Another common name for this tree is Buckwheat Tree.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. November 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Cyrilla racemiflora. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CYRA

85

Bull Tongue is native to the Carolinas and Georgia and can be spotted in very wet areas like marshes. The beautiful flowers bloom and the fruit will ripen in the summer and fall. The flowers have three petals that will be white. The leaves are simple but quite large.

Source: Native and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia. February 2016. Name that Plant: Duck Potato. Accessed from http:// www.namethatplant.net/plantdetail.shtml?plant=2859

86

Carolina Redroot is a native plant that prefers sandy soils with plenty of water. During the spring and summer Redroot begins to flower. The flowers are small with the outer petals being white and the inner petals being yellow and woolly but arise on a stalk high above the leaves. The leaves are an identifying characteristic of this plant; produced by flattened leaves in a fan-like appearance. The name Redroot comes from the roots being a red-orange color. The seeds of this plant are a favorite of sandhill cranes.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. September 2013. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Lachnanthes caroliana.The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LACA5

87

Coastal Sandspur is a grass-like plant that produces small burs which have spines that will stick to clothing or skin. Be careful, the burs can be painful if you walk on them. The plant blooms from June to November and the burs will be purple in color. The seeds are eaten by songbirds, the most common of these birds being the Pyrrhuloxia (Desert Cardinal).

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. July 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Cenchrus spinifex. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CYRA

88

Common Blanket Flower has many names throughout the United States because of the flowers that it produces. These names include: Fire-wheel and Indian Blanket. The flowers can be seen year-round, but the best time to see them is from March to July. The colors of the flowers will be either red, yellow, or a mixture with yellow outlining the red.

Source: IFAS Extension. September 2011. Gaillardia pulchella. Lee County Southwest Florida. University of Florida. Accessed from lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/ GardenPubsAZ/Gaillardia_pulchella.pdf

89

Common Camphorweed, also known as Stinkweed due to the odor produced when the plant is crushed. This is a rather small plant that reaches up to 3 feet tall. The flowers, seen from August to October, are pink to purple and found in clusters. The leaves, besides being sticky, have toothed edges and taper toward the tip of the leaf.

Source: Southeastern Flora. 2006. Southeastern US Plant Identification Resource: Pulchea camphorate. Accessed from http://www.southeasternflora.com/ view_flora.asp?plantid=1364

90

Common Cattails are usually found in dense stands along the shores of ponds or lakes. They stand up to 9 feet tall and look like thick blades of grass. The long cylinder-like brown part near the top is the flower head. An interesting fact is the leaves can be used, when dried, as a weaving material to make different objects, like rafts.

Source: Brandeis University. Fall 2004. Practical Plants of New England: Common Cattail. Accessed from http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Survival/Pages/ cattail.htm

91

Devil’s Walkingstick is a native woody deciduous shrub or small tree that generally grows to a height of 12-15 feet, but can grow up to 20 feet tall. Its prominent identifying characteristics are the prickles found on the stems as well as the large bi-pinnately compound leaves which can be up to 3-4 feet long and wide. In the summer, Devil’s Walkingstick blooms with umbrella-shaped clusters of white flowers that attract honeybees. These flowers are then followed by purplish-black fruits called drupes, which are commonly eaten by northern cardinals, cedar waxwings, striped skunk, red fox, and even black bears. Native Americans used the roots and other parts of this plant for many medicinal uses including inducing vomiting.

Source: The Quality Deer Management Association. May 2012. Know Your Deer Plants: Devil’s Walking Stick. Accessed from https://www.qdma.com/articles/knowyour-deer-plants-devils-walking-stick

92

Four-petaled St. John’s Wort produces flowers with four, very bright yellow petals. While St. John’s Wort can flower most months of the year, late spring is the time for this shrub.

Extracts have been used for medicinal purposes such as an antidepressant.

Source: Native Florida Wildflowers. June 2011. Four-petal St. John’s-wort-Hypericum tetrapetalum. Accessed from http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/ 2011/06/four-petal-st-johns-wort-hypericum.htm

93

Gallberry has another common name of Littleleaf Inkberry.

These names help with some of the key characteristics of this small shrub. The leaves are no longer than two inches and a small, less than half of an inch, black fruit is produced. The flowers are also quite small, white in color, and bloom in early spring.

Source: Keim, Richard. January 2015. Gallberry Ilex glabra. LSU Ag Center. Accessed from http://www.rnr.lsu.edu/plantid/species/gallberry/gallberry.htm

94

Swamp Hibiscus is a close species to the Rose Mallow and found in similar locations. The leaves are evergreen, meaning they will stay on throughout the entire year. The flowers have five petals that can go from a lighter pink to a deep scarlet color, blooming in the late summer. The beautiful flowers attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. December 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Hibiscus grandiflorus. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HIGR4

95

Muscadine is grapevine species native to the southeastern United States. The vines produce grapes varying from bronze to black in color when ripe and usually ripen beginning in August. The grapes can be eaten raw, used to make wine, jams, and other edibles. An interesting fact about Muscadine is the production of antioxidants by the plant acts as a natural resistance to most fungal and bacterial infections.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. September 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Vitis rotundifolia. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VIRO3.

96

Partridge Pea has small leaves that have anywhere between six to fifteen pairs of leaflets per leaf. An interesting fact about the leaves is that when they are touched they will fold up. The flowers of this plant are yellow in color and have five petals; however, one of the petals is lower than the other four and is larger in size. The seeds are contained within a flat pod, also known as a legume, that are produced in early September.

Gruenstaeudl, Michael. June 2009. Fabaceae Chamaecrista fasciculate. University of Texas. Accessed from http:// www.bio.utexas.edu/courses/bio406d/images/pics/fab/chamaecrista_fasciculata.htm

97

Pinewoods Milkweed, also known as Sandhill Milkweed, has pink to white flowers that bloom from March through June. It is found in dry areas with sandy soils often in or near open forests. This plant has a spreading form, and it’s stems are usually flat or nearly flat to the ground. Another distinguishing characteristic is that it has prominent purple veins in the leaves. This Milkweed is an important source of food for bees and butterflies, including the monarch butterfly.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. August 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Asclepias humistrata. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ASHU3.

98

Poison Ivy is known to cause an itchy skin reaction; which is why the saying “leaves of three, let it be!� came about. While some humans do not have any reaction, most humans do react with varying degrees of severity. Poison Ivy has three forms: as a hairy vine, a small shrub, or as ground cover. The mature leaves range in colors of green, yellow, red and orange; with each leaf containing three leaflets on one stalk.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. January 2007. NPIN: Native Plant Database Toxicodendron radicans. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TORA2.

99

Pokeweed’s the berries and roots are poisonous, however, early colonists would use the juice taken from the berries as a dye. Pokeweed berries are purple in color and during the summer small clusters of white flowers can be seen. The leaves are rather large on this tall plant and the stems appear as a reddish color.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. October 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Phytolacca americana. The University of Texas at Austin.

Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=pham4

100

Purple Morning Glory plants have heart-shaped leaves and a variety of different colored flowers. The flowers can range from a light purple to a dark purple with pink in the center.

Blooming in the summer to later fall, the flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. October 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Ipomoea sagittata. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IPSA

101

Red Basil is a perennial evergreen woody herb. The wildflower has small, fragrant leaves and beautiful red flowers.

The flowers are also tubular, which makes this species attractive to hummingbirds.

Source: Native Florida Wildflowers. October 2009. Red Basil - Calamintha coccinea. Accessed from http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2009/10/red-basilcalamintha-coccinea.html

102

Redbay trees can grow up to 70 feet tall and up to 3 feet in diameter. The leaves are dark green on top and a pale green on the bottom. The bottom side of the leaves usually have a waxy feel. This tree has small clusters of yellow-green flowers and produces small blue to black drupes that ripen in the fall.

Source: 4-H Forest Resources. September 2015.Redbay. University of Florida. Environmental Education at SFRC. Accessed from http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/extension/ 4h/trees/RedBay/index.html

103

Salt Marsh Mallow grows as tall as it does wide and bears triangular looking leaves that have lobes toward the base. From June to October light pink to white flowers bloom. An interesting fact about the Salt Marsh Mallow is every night the flowers will close and then will reopen the next morning.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. September 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Kosteletzkya virginica. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=KOVI

104

Saw Palmetto is a native evergreen shrub with fan-shaped leaves that can be up to 3 feet across. It has fragrant, small white flowers that bloom between May and July. This plant can be found in sand dunes, savannas, and pine forests. Saw Palmetto is the larval host plant for the palmetto skipper.

Skippers are similar to butterflies and moths, but they have a darting erratic flight. When they land they keep their wings closed vertically like a butterfly, but their bodies resemble that of a moth.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. September 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Serenoa repens. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SERE2

105

Scarlet Hibiscus lives in swamps, sloughs, and marshes. This plant can grow up to ten feet tall. The upper leaves are deeply lobed while the lower leaves may not have any lobes. The flowers are large and are a bright to dark red color.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. January 2016. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Hibiscus coccineus. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HICO2

106

Spiny Nightshade is a non-native herbaceous plant that originated from South America and can become weedy in some areas. It grows to approximately 3 feet tall with leaves that are covered in prickles. Flowers are white with five yellow anthers in the center. When the fruit is ripe it will turn a bright red and the calyx will peel back to expose it to birds and wildlife to eat and disperse the seed. In the United Kingdom, it is used as a trap crop to trap potato cyst nematodes and prevent them from infesting potato crops.

Source: Discover Life. March 2016. Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. Red Buffalo-Bur. Accessed from http:// www.discoverlife.org/mp/20o?search=Solanum+sisymbriifolium&guide=Invasive_plants_of_South_Africa

107

Spurred Butterfly Pea is a climbing vine that can grow up to 3 feet long and twists around a host plant. The leaves are trifoliate, made up of three leaflets, and only get up to two inches long. The name came about from the flowers and fruit produced by the vine. The flowers are light blue and have a butterfly-like appearance; while the fruits are contained in elongated, hairy seedpods.

Source: Wildflowers of the United States. August 2013. Spurred Butterfly Pea, Climbing Butterfly Pea, Wild Blue Vine, Virginia Centro, Butterflypea- Centrosema virginianum. Accessed from http://uswildflowers.com/detail.php?SName=Centrosema%20virginianum

108

St. Andrew’s Cross is a shrub that produces showy, yellow flowers with four petals that are shaped like a cross. The small leaves are oval and grow in pairs along the thin stems. Flowers can grow in clusters or as individuals.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. January 2011. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Hypericum hypericoides ssp. hypericoides. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HYHYH

109

Swamp Sawgrass is a fast growing perennial that can reach up to 9 feet tall and 9 feet wide. The saw part of the name comes from the large leaves that have toothed edges and also a toothed midrib on the underside of the leaf. The flowers are on top of tall branchlets; which have two to six spikelets on their ends.

Source: UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2015. Cladium jamaicense. University of Florida. Accessed from http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/ cladium-jamaicense/

110

White Prickly Poppy is a native plant that has many prickles that deter even deer and crows from coming near it. The flowers are white, blooming beginning in the spring, and will either be laying in a cup-shape or almost completely flat. The leaves have spiny teeth along the edge and the fruit is a spiny capsule.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. August 2007. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Argemone polyanthemos. The University of Texas at Austin.

Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ARPO2

111

Winged Sumac is a small tree with open branching that grows between 20 and 35 feet tall. It has pinnately compound leaves with yellow-green flowers that turn a brilliant shade of red in the fall. Winged Sumac produces clusters of dark red pyramidal sour fruit that can be nibbled on or made into a drink that tastes like lemonade.

Source: The TWC Staff. November 2015. Rhus copallinum. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHCO

112

Yaupon is a native multi-stemmed evergreen shrub or tree that grows 8-15 feet tall. Yaupon blooms April through May with small white flowers that have four petals. The fruits are shiny, red-orange drupes that stay on the plant into winter. The leaves were used by Native Americans in the Southeastern United States to create a tea that the Europeans called “black drink.� The Europeans noted that those who drank large quantities of the drink vomited. This led to its scientific name becoming Illex vomitoria. Yaupon by itself does not induce vomiting, so it is believed that the cause was either the sheer volume being consumed or other herbs added to the tea.

Source: Keener, Brian R. January 2016. Illex vomitoria. Alabama Plant Atlas. Accessed from http://www.floraofalabama.org/Default.aspx.

113

Weak-leaf Yucca is a particular species is found along the Gulf Coast. Weak-leaf Yucca flowers have three white petals and bloom in the summer. There is essentially no stem to this plant. The leaves grow from the base and can reach up to 3 feet in length with a spine-tip.

Source: Discover Life. March 2016. Yucca flaccida Haw. Weak-Leaf Yucca.

Accessed from http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Yucca+flaccida

114

115

Notes:

Asters come in a wide variety of beautiful colors. They are a perennial wildflower that is found across North America, Europe, and Asia. The name Aster has Greek origins and means “star.� These star-like flowers are very complicated.

The center of the flower is actually a cluster of numerous tiny tubular flowers surrounded by petals.

Source: The Flower Expert. 2016. Aster flower. Accessed from http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowersandseasons/aster.

117

Buttonbush is a woody shrub that can be found near or in wetlands. The leaves are a shiny green and the seed heads are a brown ball. One of the identifying characteristics is the flowers, which are greenish-white tubes clustered on top of the seed balls.

Source: Aquaplant A Pond Manager Diagnostics Tool. No Date. Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. Accessed from http:// aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/buttonbush/

118

Climbing Hempweed is a climbing vine in the aster family. It prefers to grow in moist thickets or by streambanks. The flowers bloom from July to October and range in color from white to a light pink.

Source: Connecticut Botanical Society. March 2015. Connecticut Plants: Climbing Hempweed (Climbing Boneset) Mikania scandens (L.) Willd. Accessed http:// www.ct-botanical-society.org/Plants/view/382

119

Common Partridge Pea has small leaves and has anywhere between six to fifteen pairs of leaflets per leaf. Upon being touched, the leaves will fold up. The flowers of this plant are yellow in color and have five petals; however, one of the petals is lower than the other four and is larger in size. The seeds are contained within a flat pod, also known as a legume, that are produced in early September.

Source: Gruenstaeudl, Michael. June 2009. Fabaceae Chamaecrista fasciculate. University of Texas. Accessed from http://www.bio.utexas.edu/courses/bio406d/ images/pics/fab/chamaecrista_fasciculata.htm

120

Blazing Star is a clump forming plant that grows 2 to 6 feet in height, preferring moist environments. The flowers bloom in late summer on rigid stalks up to a foot long. The name comes from the tiny, light purple flowers that have a star-like appearance.

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden. 2016. Liatris. Accessed from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d780

121

The Fragrant Water Lilly’s common name describes this plant perfectly. The leaves and flowers float on top of the water’s surface, and the flowers have a very strong fragrance.

The flowers have white petals with a yellow center.

Source: Aquaplant A Pond Manager Diagnostics Tool. No Date. White Water Lily, Fragrant Water Lily. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. Accessed from http:// aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/white-water-lily/

122

Giant Foxtail is an annual grass that grows up to 7 feet tall.

The only way for this grass to reproduce is through seed dispersal. The name comes from the top portion of the leaves that are covered in small white hairs which resembles a fox’s tail.

Source: Lanini, Thomas. No Date. Weed Management: Giant Foxtail. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Accessed from http://extension.psu.edu/pests/ weeds/weed-id/giant-foxtail

123

Swamp Hibiscus is a close species to the Rose Mallow and found in similar locations. The leaves are evergreen, meaning they will stay on throughout the entire year. The flowers have five petals that can go from a lighter pink to a deep scarlet color, blooming in the late summer. The beautiful flowers attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. December 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Hibiscus grandiflorus. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HIGR4

124

Gopher Apple produces a yellowish-brown fruit that is eaten by small mammals, gophers, and tortoises. The form for this plant is usually a small shrub. The flowers are white and tend to be showy.

Source: Florida Native Plant Society. 2013. Plants: Licania michauxii gopher-apple Accessed from http://www.fnps.org/plants/plant/licania-michauxii

125

Meadow Beauty may be fund around savannahs, meadows, or marshes. Between June and August the flowers will bloom with either white or pink petals and a cluster of yellow stamens in the center. Meadow Beauty only grows up to 3 feet tall and the flowers can be up to two inches in diameter.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. April 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Rhexia mariana. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http:// www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHMA

126

Narrowleaf Ironweed is usually found in well-drained grasslands, and only grows up to 3 feet tall. The flowers bloom in the late summer, attracting butterflies and other insects. The attraction comes from the showy clumps of tiny purple flowers.

Tenaglia, Dan. March 2005. Vernonia angustifolia . Accessed from http://alabamaplants.com/Pinkalt/Vernonia_angustifolia_page.html.

127

Purple Morning Glory plants have heart-shaped leaves and a variety of different colored flowers. The flowers can range from a light purple to a dark purple with pink in the center.

Blooming in the summer to later fall, the flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. October 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Ipomoea sagittata. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IPSA

128

Red Basil is a perennial evergreen woody herb. The wildflower has small, fragrant leaves and beautiful red flowers.

The flowers are also tubular, which makes this species attractive to hummingbirds.

Source: Native Florida Wildflowers. October 2009. Red Basil - Calamintha coccinea. Accessed from http:// hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2009/10/red-basil-calamintha-coccinea.html

129

Sandhill Wild Buckwheat is native to North America. The plant’s scientific epithet, tomentosum, means dense hair. Little hairs cover the stems, leaves, and flowers of this plant. The leaves are arranged in a whorl pattern around the stem. White flowers will begin to bloom in July.

Tenaglia, Dan. February 2007. Eriogonum tomentosum Michx. - Dogtongue Wild Buckwheat. Accessed from http:// www.alabamaplants.com/Whiteopp/Eriogonum_tomentosum_page.html

130

Seaside Evening Primrose and Cutleaf Evening Primrose are common names for this species. The flower is light yellow with four heart-shaped petals. The leaves are narrow with a distinctive white midvein. The fruit is produced in a curved pod.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. October 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Oenothera laciniata. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=OELA

131

Slender Leaf Clammyweed is found in dry pine woods and blooms from spring to late summer. The flowers have white petals and pale yellow sepals growing in racemes. The stems have hairs and the petioles can be green or purple.

Source: Rogers, George, Bradford j., and Dee Staley. July 2015. Tag Archives: Polanisia tenuifolia treasurecoastnatives.wordpress.com/tag/polanisia-tenuifolia/

Clammy Weed . Accessed from https://

132

The Smooth Trailing Lespedeza seeds are an important food source for bobwhite quail. Whether in open woods, thickets, or clearings, this trailing plant can be found over the majority of the eastern United States. Attached to the trailing stems , from May to September are clusters of pink to purple flowers.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. December 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database: Lespedeza repens. The University of Texas at Austin. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LERE2

133

Spurred Butterfly Pea is a climbing vine that can grow up to 3 feet long and twists around a host plant. The leaves are trifoliate, made up of three leaflets, and only get up to two inches long. The name came about from the flowers and fruit produced by the vine. The flowers are light blue and have a butterfly-like appearance; while the fruits are contained in elongated, hairy seedpods.

Source: Wildflowers of the United States. August 2013. Spurred Butterfly Pea, Climbing Butterfly Pea, Wild Blue Vine, Virginia Centro, Butterflypea- Centrosema virginianum. Accessed from http://uswildflowers.com/detail.php?SName=Centrosema%20virginianum

134

Turnsole, also known as Indian Heliotrope, is a non-native weed that is native of Asia. It has a hairy stem and can grow to a height between 6-20 inches. Flowers are pale-violet and fade to white as the flower gets older. This plant is used as a medicinal plant in many places across the world to treat a variety of ailments including warts and inflammations.

Source: Gurib-Fakim, A., 2006. Heliotropium indicum L. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). Prota 11(1): Medicinal plants/Plantes mĂŠdicinales 1. [CD-Rom]. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed from http://database.prota.org/PROTAhtml/ Heliotropium%20indicum_En.htm.

135

Water Spider Orchid is a native aquatic orchid. Spreading by runners helped to develop the common name. These plants only grow up to 2 feet tall and have medium sized leaves, reaching nine inches long. The flowers are light green and assemble at the top of the plant. The petals of the flower are small and narrow, resembling spiders.

Source: UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2015. Habenaria repens. University of Florida. Accessed from http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/ habenaria-repens/

136

Winged Sumac is a small tree with open branching that grows between 20 and 35 feet tall. It has pinnately compound leaves with yellow-green flowers that turn a brilliant shade of red in the fall. Winged Sumac produces clusters of dark red pyramidal sour fruit that can be nibbled on or made into a drink that tastes like lemonade.

Source: The TWC Staff. November 2015. Rhus copallinum. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHCO

137

Notes:

139

Notes:

American Beautyberry is a multi-stem shrub that grows to about 4 feet tall in moist soils, typically in the shade. It has fuzzy, green leaves and produces bunches of bright purple berries on the branches that are very easy to spot when fruiting in the fall. Wildlife often enjoys snacking on these berries and humans can, too. Their flavor is very light, but the berries can be cooked down and turned into jelly.

Source: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. January 2006. Callicarpa Americana. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAAM2

141

Arrowhead Morning Glory is a common vine in the southern United States that climbs across the ground and plants it encounters. It produces purple, funnel-shaped flowers and is named after its leaves that are shaped like arrowheads.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2012. NPIN: Native Plant Database Sisyrinchium angustifolium. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SIAN3.

142

Asters come in a wide variety of beautiful colors. They are a perennial wildflower that is found across North America, Europe, and Asia. The name Aster has Greek origins and means “star.� These star-like flowers are very complicated.

The center of the flower is actually a cluster of numerous tiny tubular flowers surrounded by petals.

Source: The Flower Expert. 2016. Aster flower. Accessed from http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowersandseasons/aster.

143

Boneset is a small shrub found blooming in the fall, producing clusters of white flowers that appear to be made of fringe. It can grow up to 6 feet tall and the stem looks like it is growing through the leaves. Boneset once was used in herbal medicine; the leaves could be dried and brewed in a tea that would help treat coughs and colds. As the name indicates, wetted Boneset leaves were used to wrap splints around broken bones to help them heal.

Source: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. December 2015. Eupatorium perfoliatum.

Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=EUPE3.

144

Bushy Broom Grass is a clump grass that grows between 2 to 5 feet tall in full-sun areas with moist soils. It is an eyecatching grass because in the fall the sheaths turn a salmonorange color. Contrasting nicely against its surroundings, this plant produces shiny bushy flowers that looks like fluffs of feathers.

Source: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. June 2014. Andropogon glomeratus. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANGL2

145

Dahoon Holly is an evergreen that normally grows between 20-30 feet in height and is found in places with moist soils.

The leaves are small and dark green and in the winter the female trees produce bright red berries. These berries are eaten by native wildlife but are not tasteful to humans.

Source: Gilman, E. and Watson, D. . November 1993. Ilex cassine: Dahoon Holly. Accessed from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st299

146

False Flowering Spurge is a small plant that grows about 2 feet tall in well-drained soils. As its name suggests, the white ‘petals’ are not actual flower petals, but specialized leaves used to attract bugs to the tiny green flower in the center. When broken, the stem exudes a milky sap that can cause blisters and irritated skin. Additionally, it can be poisonous if ingested.

Source: Huegel, C. November 2012. False Flowering Spurge- Euphorbia pubentissima.

Accessed from http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2012/11/false-flowering-spurgeeuphorbia.html

147

Balloon Vine, also known as Heart Seed and Love in a Puff, is an invasive species that is native to Asia. This vine can grow up to 10 feet in height and likes moist thickets and river banks.

It has tiny white flowers that bloom from July to August.

Balloon Vine gets its name from its inflated, papery, balloonlike fruits.

Source: Hudson, Geordan, Sonday, ReBecca, and Burnham, R.J. No Date. Plant Diversity Wbsite Cardiospermum halicacabum L. University of Michigan. Accessed from http://www-personal.umich.edu/~rburnham/SpeciesAccountspdfs/CardhaliSAPIFINAL.pdf.

148

Persimmon trees are generally small trees ranging between 15-20 feet tall, although occasionally in moist, nutrient rich soils they can grow into large trees that can be up to 100 feet tall. This tree blooms between April and June with small, bell-shaped, yellow flowers that are often hiding under the leaves. The fruits are deliciously sweet after ripening in the fall, but before they are ripe they have an extremely bitter taste. The fruit is loved by many humans and wildlife alike. Humans have eaten the fruit fresh or used the fruit in beverages, puddings, cakes, and breads.

The genus name, Diospyros, has Greek origins and means fruit of the god Zeus.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. November 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Diospyros virginiana. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DIVI5.

149

Purple Gerardia, also known as Purple False Foxglove, is a short annual found in low, moist soils in the southeastern United States. It produces pink flowers with five petals and has a wide throat speckled with darker, purple dots. This plant is considered a partial parasite because its roots grow into neighboring host plants where it will steal the host plant’s sugars and nutrients while still creating some of its own. The flowers resemble foxglove, a plant that is poisonous when ingested and in some humans causes skin irritation. While False Foxglove is not poisonous, care should still be taken because of their similar appearance.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. August 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Agalinis purpurea. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plant result.php?id_plant=AGPU5.

150 Source: New England Wild Flower Society. 2016. Agalinis purpurea, purple false-foxglove. Accessed from https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/agalinis/purpurea/.

“puff ball”

Small Flower Morning Flory, also known as Hairy Clustervine, is a trailing or climbing annual vine that can grow between 6-12 feet in length. This plant has oval or heart shaped leaves, and beautiful blue-violet flowers. Another identifying feature is the “puff balls” found at each node.

Source: Tenaglia, Dan. February 2005. Jacquemontia tamnifolia - Hairy Clustervine.

Accessed from http://alabamaplants.com/Bluealt/Jacquemontia_tamnifolia_page.html.

151

Smooth Yellow False Foxglove is a native perennial that produces yellow, five-petal flowers with wide throats. This plant is considered a partial parasite because its roots grow into neighboring host plants where it will steal the host plant’s sugars and nutrients while still creating some of its own.

Source: New England Wildflower Society. No Date. Go Botany: Aureolaria flava.

Accessed from https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/aureolaria/flava/

152

Swamp Loosestrife, also known as Water Willow, is a shrubby native perennial with lance shaped leaves. It grows up to 3 feet tall in swampy areas and near ponds. In late summer and early fall it blooms with clusters of bell-shaped pinkpurple flowers.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. October 2014. NPIN: Native Plant Database Decodon verticillatus. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DEVE.

153

Yellow Pencil Flower is a small native plant that can be easily overlooked. It can grow to a height of up to 8 inches, and has hairy leaves and stems. This plant blooms in late summer and early fall with small pea-like yellow flowers. Each plant may have only a small amount of flowers that will bloom at the same time.

Source: Hilty, John. 2015. Pencil Flower, Stylosanthes biflora. Accessed fromhttp://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/pencil_flw.html.

154

155

Notes:

Arrowhead Morning Glory is a common vine in the southern United States that climbs across the ground and plants it encounters. It produces purple, funnel-shaped flowers and is named after its leaves that are shaped like arrowheads.

Source: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. October 2015. Ipomoea sagittata. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IPSA

157

Bushy Broom Grass is a clump grass that grows between 2 to 5 feet tall in full-sun areas with moist soils. It is an eyecatching grass because in the fall the sheaths turn a salmonorange color. Contrasting nicely against its surroundings, this plant produces shiny bushy flowers that looks like fluffs of feathers.

Source: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. June 2014. Andropogon glomeratus.

Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANGL2

158

Chinese Tallow is a small tree that grows rapidly in almost any condition throughout the United States. In the fall its leaves turn a deep red and in the spring it blooms strings of small yellow flowers that turn into round, lobed, white fruit that resembles popcorn. Benjamin Franklin wanted to use the waxy coating from the fruits to make candles and as a source of energy, but instead, it has become a very aggressive invasive species. Contributing to its success as an invasive, the Chinese Tallow is allelopathic, meaning it creates its own chemicals that it releases into the ground. The chemicals surrounding its roots make it difficult for other plants to continue growing near it.

Source: Langeland, K. and Enloe, S. . 2015. Natural Area Weeds: Chinese Tallow. Accessed from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag148

159

Snowy Jointweed, also known as October Flower, is a short shrubby plant that grows in the southeastern United States.

During most of the year it is rather inconspicuous, blending in as just a regular shrub. However, in October it produces large clusters of tiny white flowers for a couple weeks.

Source: Huegel, C. August 2010. October Flower- Polygonella polygama.

Accessed from http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2010/08/october-flower-polygonellapolygama.html

160

Cypress Vine is a small, annual vine that grows in moist soils in full sun. This vine is fragile due to its thin stems. It produces rich pink flowers with five petals that form a star shape with a yellow center that can be seen easily when in bloom.

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden. 2016. Ipomoea quamoclit. Accessed from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b912

161

Dogfennel is native to North America. It grows straight up and can reach up to 10 feet tall. The woody base can have many stems that are hairy and rough. The bases of the stems are usually a reddish purple or white. Very small greenish to white flowers can be seen throughout the year on this plant.

The leaves are edible and the entire Dogfennel plant can be used to treat bites from insects and reptiles

Source: Everglades Research and Education Center. 2016. Weed Identification: Dogfennel. University of Florida. Accessed from http://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/weeds/dog%20fennel.html.

Source: Small, L. . December 2005. Eupatorium capillifolium. Accessed from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?

LatinName=Eupatorium+capillifolium

162

Goldenrod is a grassy shrub that produces many yellow flowers that appear to form a spear-tip of flowers at the ends of its stalks. It has many culinary and medicinal uses. This plant has commonly been made into tea by Native Americans and the Chinese, but it can also be used as a diuretic, a salve for wounds, and to ease toothaches. It was once used as a source of natural yellow dye for textiles. Many humans in the United States claim that its abundance of pollen is a source of allergy irritation, but the pollen is typically too heavy to be carried by the wind, making it harder to be an irritant.

Source: Lukacs, B. . December 2007. Solidago spp. Goldenrod. Accessed from http://www.muskegoncc.edu/Include/Life%20Science/Kasey%20Hartz%20Nature %20Trail/Reference%20Sheets%20KHNA/Solidago.pdf

163

Groundsel is a shrub-like herbaceous plant that grows along coasts, preferably in moist soils full of nutrients, but can also survive harsher conditions in the cooler months of the year and dies in the summer heat. In the fall, it produces clusters of white or yellow flowers that turn into tufts of seeds, almost like a small version of dandelion flowers. Groundsel is often kept out of livestock areas because when horses, pigs, or cows eat even a small amount it can cause liver poisoning.

Source: Wilen, C. . May 2006. Pest Notes: Common Groundsel. Accessed from http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74130.html

164

Venus’ Pride is a small plant that typically grows on a single stem up to 2 feet tall. Often considered a common weed, they produce clusters of small flowers at the top of their stems that range in color from white to light blue and lavender.

Source: Williamson, G. . February 2016. Wildflowers of the United States. Accessed from http://uswildflowers.com/detail.php?SName=Houstonia%20purpurea

165

Blazing Star is a clump forming plant that grows 2 to 6 feet in height. The plant prefers moist environments. The flowers bloom in late summer on rigid stalks up to a foot long. The name comes from the tiny, light purple flowers that have a starlike appearance.

Source: Missouri Botanical Garden. 2016. Liatris. Accessed from http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d780

166

Mexican Clover is a ground vine that can grow in sandy, dry conditions. It is small, but a very hardy plant ranging throughout South America and the southern United States. In Brazil, folk medicine practices used the leaves of the Mexican clover to treat diabetes and to prevent nausea. It produces white flowers that appear to cover a patch of the ground when in bloom.

Source: Pinto, D. et al. March 2008. Secondary metabolites isolated from Richardia brasiliensis Gomes. Accessed from http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbfar/v18n3/a10v18n3.pdf

167

Passion Flowers grow on a climbing vine and produce large, ornate flowers that are typically purple and very fragrant with a sweet lemon smell. Some species produce a delicious fruit that can be collected and eaten by humans, if the birds don’t eat them first! Other species can be used for medicinal purposes and could possibly even be used to make antidepressants.

Source: Cleversley, K. . 2016. Passiflora spp.- Passion Flower. Accessed from http://entheology.com/plants/passiflora-passion-flower/

168

Primrose Willow is a yellow, four-petal ground flower found growing on the edges of swamps, marshes, and lakes, blooming all year long.

Source: Langeland, K. et al. 2015. Ludwigia peruviana. Accessed from https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/ludwigia-peruviana/

169

Purple False Foxglove, also known as Purple Gerardia, is a short annual found in low, moist soils in the southeastern United States. It produces pink flowers with five petals and has a wide throat speckled with darker, purple dots. This plant is considered a partial parasite because its roots grow into neighboring host plants where it will steal the host plant’s sugars and nutrients while still creating some of its own. The flowers resemble foxglove, a plant that is poisonous when ingested and in some humans causes skin irritation. While False Foxglove is not poisonous, care should still be taken because of their similar appearance.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. August 2015. NPIN: Native Plant Database Agalinis purpurea. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plant result.php?id_plant=AGPU5.

170 Source: New England Wild Flower Society. 2016. Agalinis purpurea, purple false-foxglove. Accessed from https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/agalinis/purpurea/.

Slender Sea Purslane is a ground cover plant that is found on sandy areas like beaches and sand dunes. It has succulent stems, thick waxy leaves, and produces small purple flowers throughout the year. It is often overlooked because it does not grow very tall and the flowers are not very showy. Slender Sea purslane is very useful in the prevention of erosion on beaches and sand dunes.

Source: Britton, W. et al. March 2004. Sesuvium maritimum. Accessed from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242415129

171

Smooth Yellow False Foxglove is a ground flower that produces yellow, five-petal flowers with wide throats. It is considered a partial parasite because it grows its roots into a neighboring host plant and will steal the host plant’s sugars and nutrients while still creating some of its own.

Source: Go Botany. 2016. Aureolaria flava. Accessed from https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/aureolaria/flava/

172

Spurred Butterfly Pea is a climbing vine that can grow up to 3 feet long and twists around a host plant. The leaves are trifoliate, made up of three leaflets, and only get up to two inches long. The name came about from the flowers and fruit produced by the vine. The flowers are light blue and have a butterfly-like appearance; while the fruits are contained in elongated, hairy seedpods.

Source: Wildflowers of the United States. August 2013. Spurred Butterfly Pea, Climbing Butterfly Pea, Wild Blue Vine, Virginia Centro, Butterflypea- Centrosema virginianum. Accessed from http://uswildflowers.com/detail.php?SName=Centrosema%20virginianum

173

Sugarcane Plume Grass grows 6 to 10 feet tall in moist areas, such as, marshes and swamps. It blooms in early fall creating silvery seeds and large rust-colored puffy plumes.

Source: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. February 2016. Saccharum giganteum. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SAGI

174

Swamp Titi is a small tree with a cinnamon trunk and dark green leaves that will turn red in the fall. Swamp Titi produces small, white flowers on string-like stems that eventually turn into golden-yellow seeds. It can be found throughout the southeastern United States and South America. When bees use nectar from their flowers, it produces a very dark honey.

Source: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. November 2015. Cyrilla racemiflora. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CYRA

175

Tickseed Sunflower is an annual found growing in coastal states along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The bright yellow flowers tend to grow near each other, making patches of yellow in the fall. Tickseed Sunflower is adaptable to living in both freshwater and brackish habitats. Their seeds have small spikes that help them stick to fur, hair, or clothes of a humans and animals passing by, which aids in seed dispersal.

Source: Huegel, C. . May 2012. Small-fruited Bur-Marigold- Bidens mitis. Accessed from http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2012/05/small-fruited-bur-marigoldbidens-mitis.html

176

Vanilla Leaf, also known as Deer’s Tongue, is found in the southeastern United States growing up to 6 feet tall in open forests and pinelands. In early fall, clusters of tiny purple flowers bloom. The common name originated from the strong vanilla scent produced when the plant’s leaves begin to wilt or die. This made the plant very popular for the use of flavoring cigarettes, but now is more commonly used when making artificial fragrances like candles and perfumes.

Source: Huegel, C. . January 2010. Vanilla Plant- Carphephorus odoratissimus. Accessed from http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2010/01/vanilla-plantcarphephorus.html

177

Wax myrtle is a native multi-stemmed evergreen shrub that grows 6-12 feet tall. The shrub is widely used in landscaping and provides screen covering for many animals moving through the woods and a place to nest for some birds. When crushed, the leaves have a spicy smell to them and the grayblue berries are a source of food for some wildlife. Colonists used to remove the gray, waxy layer from the berries to use it to make candles.

Source: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. January 2016. Morella cerifera. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MOCE2

178

179

Notes:

False Rosemary is a shrub found in west Florida and Alabama. It is commonly found in dry, sandy places like the backsides of dunes. It produces small white or lavender flowers between March and November. It is used in landscaping in places that want to cut down water usage or for beach restoration projects to keep the sand from blowing away.

Source: Thetford, M. and Miller, D. . 2015. Propagation and Production of False Rosemary. Accessed from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep230

181

Poison Ivy is known to cause an itchy skin reaction; which is why the saying “leaves of three, let it be!� came about. While some humans do not have any reaction, most humans do react with varying degrees of severity. Poison Ivy has three forms: as a hairy vine, a small shrub, or as ground cover. The mature leaves range in colors of green, yellow, red and orange; with each leaf containing three leaflets on one stalk. May be confused with Crossvine (left photo), Bignonia capreaolata.

Source: University of Texas at Austin. January 2007. NPIN: Native Plant Database Toxicodendron radicans. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TORA2.

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Tomentose Gopherweed is a native woody herbaceous plant that blooms between April and May. It grows in sand hills and open woods with sandy soil to a height of 1-3 feet tall. When in bloom, this plant has yellow two-lipped flowers. .

Source: Labybird Johnson Wilflower Center. 2016. Baptisia lanceolate. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BALA3

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Chinese Tallow is a small tree that grows rapidly in almost any condition throughout the United States. In the fall its leaves turn a deep red and in the spring it blooms strings of small yellow flowers that turn into round, lobed, white fruit that resembles popcorn. Benjamin Franklin wanted to use the waxy coating from the fruits to make candles and as a source of energy, but instead, it has become a very aggressive invasive species. Contributing to its success as an invasive, the Chinese Tallow is allelopathic, meaning it creates its own chemicals that it releases into the ground. The chemicals surrounding its roots make it difficult for other plants to continue growing near it.

Source: Langeland, K. and Enloe, S. . 2015. Natural Area Weeds: Chinese Tallow. Accessed from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag148

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Common Prickly Pear is a treelike cactus originally from South America and introduced to other parts of the world in the 1700’s.

It has large “padlike” leaves that are covered with protective spines and can grow in dense thickets, crowding out other plants and making it difficult for animals to pass through. The flower of the Common Prickly Pear is a bright yellow flower seen blooming at the top. The fruit resembles the size and shape of an egg. The fruit is green like the leaves when unripe, but will turn a pinkish-red color when ripe. Exercise caution with these plants to avoid getting stuck with the spines!

Source: CABI. 2016. Common Prickly Pear (Opuntia monocantha). Accessed from http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/120172

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Dahoon Holly is an evergreen that normally grows between 20-30 feet in height and is found in places with moist soils.

The leaves are small and dark green and in the winter the female trees produce bright red berries. These berries are eaten by native wildlife but are not tasteful to humans.

Source: Gilman, E. and Watson, D. . November 1993. Ilex cassine: Dahoon Holly. Accessed from https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st299

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Florida or Sandhill Rosemary is found in the dry, sandy dunes of southeastern North America. It is a dense shrub that grows up to 6 feet tall and often grows in small, thick stands with other Florida Rosemary plants. This plant has flat, short, needle-like leaves and blooms with light yellow flowers in clusters along the branches. The flowers are followed by yellow fruits. During the summer, thick patches of Sandhill Rosemary produce a smell like honey. This plant is also allelopathic, meaning that it produces a chemical that it releases in the surrounding soil, making it hard for other plants to grow nearby.

Source: Archbold Biological Center. December 2015. Ceratiola ericoides Species Account. Accessed from http://www.archboldstation.org/html/research/plant/cererisppacc.html

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Winged Sumac is a small tree with open branching that grows between 20 and 35 feet tall. It has pinnately compound leaves with yellow-green flowers that turn a brilliant shade of red in the fall. Winged Sumac produces clusters of dark red pyramidal sour fruit that can be nibbled on or made into a drink that tastes like lemonade.

Source: The TWC Staff. November 2015. Rhus copallinum. Accessed from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RHCO

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Gulf Shores State Park Wildlflower and Plants

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