- Tree cactus is-afSOToundonlower

of
tree
decrease,
Role in Protecting
decaying
tree
provide
strata
lower
Plant
now
and
advises
that
It
of
Division
the
Agriculture.
of
of
them
from
collecting
permission
for
permits
written
a
to
are
and
time
species
it's
markets
flea
feels
but
unprotected
to
on
Ralph
year,
a
times
move
problem.
and
asked
FNPS members to report
apparent violators.
continuednextpage
rare,
protecting
law
council
a
for
Dept.
Brown
Ralph
requires
(including
heard
We
programs
programs
restoration,
those
or
where
protection
state
to
the landowner). The state's 7,800
nurseries are inspected up to four
improvements.
heard
nutrients,
Meeting
Industry,
calls
frank,
and
the
one
opinion,
my
of
expertly.
periods
explanations
question
clear
with
develops lists of protected plants and
affecting native plants by the majority
of those agencies responsible for
their
layers
what it was prior to 1978, according
and the moderators handled the
we
down
Native Plants and Natural Communities
in
organized,
well
was
in
program
informative
It
was,
fall
were
best.
our
speakers
of
Tallahassee
FNPS
break
layersin a critic~1fashion.)
on
depends
layer
cryptof{am;c
State Government's
need
shrub
on FNPSMembers'
REPORT
to
moisture, and aeration.
(In the next issue..we'll investigate
how the changing seasons affect the
increasesfrom the upper layerdown.
The
those
while
and
moisture
wind
and
and
stabilizes,
Sunlight
more
wind,
and less
than the protected layers
The
layer
fallen vegetation.
The shrub layer provides a
protective canopy for lower layers
soil
the
amount
cryptogamic
upon
through
the
They
The tree crownsare exposedto full
sunlight,
humidity
from
systems),
but
vegetation, moisture content of the
humus, and shade, which influences
the other factors.
The
herb
layer
has similar
dependencies plus a reliance on the
forth.
partially
so
and
and
passing
moisture
crowns,
light
upon
less interrupted.
largely
or
(erosion and large root
humus
6
page
continuous
usually
not
are
more
depend
are
below.
Tree Cactus (Cereus robinii), found
primarily on Big Pine Key, is being
considered by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS)for inclusion in
the Federal Endangered Species Act.
It is already protected by the state and
by Monroe County ordinances, but it
may be the first plant in the Keysto be
protected
by the
Federal
government, and only the third in
Florida
(Harper's
beauty and
Chapman's rhododendron are the
other two).
temperature
Lafferty
They
Usually a tree layer, a shrub layer,
an herb layer, and a cryptogamic
(ferns, mosses) layer are present.
The
by Michael
ECOLOGY
TREE CACTUS MAY BE
PROTECTED
from
PALMETTO, November, 1983, Page 7
soil stability
20
a ribbed
trunk.
flower
Keys
Florida
blooms in the late evening or at night
near the plant's height. A reddish,
garlic-smelling
fruit is found on the
plant. Spines are sharp and bunched
in groups of 30-40.
(Thanks to Michael Lafferty and
Keynoter
for
permission
to use this article and
photo.)
The
Landscaping
in
Plants
Native
Florida
of
Use
native
governmental
damaged
of
local
and
restoration
federal,
and
state,
plants
native
several
of
of
goals
most
in
nurseries
nurseries,
from
many
by
available
contract
on
increasingly
grown
are
be
can
plants
and
native
Florida
all
and
management
land
in
engaged
agencies
urge
with
A
for
utilize
and
protect
should
properties
own
that
agencies
governmental
branching
a
is
robinii
Cereus
feet,
plant
Agencies
Now therefore be it resolved,that the Florida Native PlantSocietydoes
governmental
15 to
all
from
feet tall, and sometimes as high as 30
that
anywhere
of
parts
Standing
Governmental
and
are
protection
Whereas
communities
Karen
Florida
Whereas Florida's native plants play major roles in controlling erosion
and reducing flood damages, assimilating potential pollutants, providing
habitat for fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and are sources for medicines and
genetic material used in research, and
Whereas native plants are hardy and require little or no maintenance
such as fertilizing or pesticiding once established, and
programs,
consultant
Achor. "It's so rare in the county that
one bad hurricane or one bad fire
could be very serious," said Miss
Achor. "I don't think there is any
doubt that people dig it up."
by
Whereas
environmental
to
according
Keys,
the
in
was
Matecumbe Key and in the long Key
State Recreation Area.
Tree cactus is not only indigenous
to the Keys, but its entire evolution
To
- Tree cactusis-afSOToundonlower
Encourage
RESOLUTION
endangered, or threatened native
plants is a vast improvement over
landscaping native plants and plant communities to the greatest extent
possible when developing, managing, or restoring lands, and
That all agencies engaged in landscaping use appropriate native plants
grown from local stock in order t'o recreate native plant communities
similar to those found originally in their areas, and
That by setting landscaping examples for the Florida public, our citizens
will be encouraged similarly to protect and restore Florida native plants.
Adopted by the Florida Native Plant Society board of directors in
Tallahassee,FL,on October 22, 1983.