Natural Lands Educational Brochure - UCF Arboretum

References
Natural Lands
Trail Guide
1. D. Austin. 2004. Florida Ethnobotany. Fairchild Tropical garden, Coral Gables Florida.
2. Clipart ETC, Educational Technology Clearinghouse, Florida
Center for Instructional Technology. http://etc.usf.edu/clipart
(accessed 1 July 2013.)
3. Cape Coral. 2013. Best Native Plants. The City of Cape
Coral, Florida. http://www.capecoral.net (accessed 1 July
2013.)
4. Deane. 2013. Eat The Weeds. http://www.eattheweeds.com
(accessed 22 June 2013 through 1 July 2013)
5. M. Donnelley, G. Klowden, and A. Spivvy. 2013. Principles
of Ecology Laboratory Manual. University of Central Florida.
Pg. 42-46.
6. EDIS. 2011. University of Florida IFAS Extension, FL. http://
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ (accessed 22 June 2013 through 1 July
2013)
7. eFloras. 2008. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO &
Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. http://
www.efloras.org (accessed 1 July 2013)
8. Flora of Alabama. 2013. Alabama Herbarium Consortium,
AL & The University of West Alabama, AL. http://
www.floraofalabama.org (accessed 1 July 2013)
9. J. Karanfil. (2013, July 1). Montreal Wilderness (Web
Blog). Retrieved from http://
montrealwilderness.blogspot.com
10. R. Noss. 1988. Endangered Species Update. The Longleaf
Pine Landscape of the Southeast: Almost Gone and Almost
Forgotten. The University of Michigan, MI School of Natural
Resources. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu (accessed 12 June
2013 through 25 June 2013)
11. S. Schuerger. 2012. South Woods Branch Trail Nature
Guide. Orlando Wetlands Park & City of Orlando, Fl.
12. W. Taylor. 1998. Florida Wildflowers in Their Natural Communities. The University Press of Florida
13. USDA, NRCS. 2013. The PLANTS Database (http://
plants.usda.gov, 25 June 2013 through 1 July 2013). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA
14. A. Clewell. 1989. Natural History of Wiregrass (Aristida
stricta Michx. Gramineae). Natural Areas Journal 9:223233.
Phillip Maxwell UCF, 2013.
©2013 University of Central Florida.
College of Sciences
15. A. Koczlszky. (2013, July 25th). Gombamania (Web Blog).
Retrieved from http://
gombaklub.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html
Welcome!
The University of Central Florida Arboretum was
established in 1983 and is host to 82 acres of
native landscape. We have a rich diversity of
intermixed ecosystems such as the Pine flatwoods,
Scrub flatwoods, Cypress dome, Oak hammock,
and Wetlands. Notice how fire disturbances and
human contact play a role in shaping these
ecosystems. Become familiar with the interesting
history, ecological impact and cultural uses of
plants right here at UCF and the surrounding
Central Florida region.
This trail guide will include the Fire loop (0.81
miles), Cypress trail (0.71 miles) and Transitional
trail (0.32 miles). Follow the numbered points on
the trail and brochure map. Red arrows signify
the Fire loop, Blue arrows the Cypress trail, and
White arrows the Transitional trail or Oak hammock. The Scrub flatwoods is not included in this
trail guide, but you may hike it as you please.
The trail guide begins and ends at the Nature
pavilion.
To guarantee a comfortable and enlightening
experience we ask that you come prepared for a
moderate hike. Please bring with you a canteen
for water, insect repellant, sun protection, and
comfy hiking shoes. Along the trail you will find
many benches perfect for relaxing, so enjoy a
snack or picnic! We ask that you also leave only
footprints behind. You are bound to come into
contact with Gopher tortoises or other animals that
frequent the trail. Take pleasure in their presence
but please do not touch or feed them. The
brochure contains an abundance of information
on edible plants, however, this information is
purely for educational purposes. Please do not
pick, harvest, or collect any of the plants at the
Arboretum (wild animals have enough competition
as it is!). This insures the next hiker’s participation
and is especially true for plants and animals that
are rare or endangered. Never eat any wild
plant without first checking with a local expert.
The trails are open from dusk to dawn.
Terms used
Deciduous: Leaves that fall off or shed seasonally.
Evergreen: Leaves that remain green and functional
throughout a year.
Perennial: Persisting two or more years with new
growth.
Simple: A single leaf, not compound.
Compound: Comprised of two or more leaflets.
Pinnate: Similar to a feather. Leaflets from compound
leaf arranged on either side of an axis.
Palmate: Radiating lobes that connect to a common
point. Resembling to a hand and fingers.
Petiole: The joining point and support structure of leaf
to stem.
Sessile: Leaf connected directly upon the base of the
stem.
Pubescent: Covered with small soft hairs.
Stamen: The pollen producing male reproductive
organ. Consists of filament (stalk) and anther (pollen).
Tendril: Modified leaf, stem, or stipule that spirals and
attaches to outside objects for support.
Aggregate Fruit: Derived from several separate
ovaries grouped together on a single flower.
Drupe: Also known as stone or pit fruit. A one-seeded
indehiscent fruit with a thin outside, fleshy middle, and
hard inside. Ex. Mango.
Rhizome: Horizontal growing modified stem. Looks
similar to a root.
Spikelet: One small bracted flower spike in a grass or
sedge inflorescence.
Monocot: Any plant having a single cotyledon. (Dicots
have two).
Refer to the terms page for bolded words.
For more information please contact the UCF
Arboretum at (407) 823-3583, or come by the
our office (red star on map).
Happy trails!
Alternate vs. Opposite Leaf Positioning,
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3
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1
2
5
16
6
15
7
14
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8
13
12
11
10
1a. Cabbage Palm
2a. Prickly-pear Cactus
- Sabal palmetto; Arecaceae (Palm family)
- Opuntia humifusa; Cactaceae (Cactus family)
- Subcanopy
- Shrub
- On your right. Endemic to the Americas. The
indigenous called flat padded cacti Nopal and
its fruits Tuna.1 Perennial with succulent flattened
pads and (warning) usually host to many spines.
Yellow flowers bloom between March and
August.12
- The iconic and frequently encountered State
Tree of Florida.11 Cabbage palm is an
evergreen monocot reaching up to 65ft in height
and sometimes making up the dominant canopy
(ex. Cabbage Palm flatwoods).12 Large
palmately compound and alternate leaves
appear at the top and many old leave stalks
cover the trunk.13 The stem of the palm extends
into the leaf, unlike Saw palmetto. The trunk is
sometimes host to species of fern, a relationship
known as commensalism.
- The drupaceous
fruit and terminal
bud, “cabbage” is
edible. Also
known as palm
heart.1
Cabbage Palm, Clipart ECT
- Both ripe fruit and young
de-spinned pads are
edible, although (warning)
eating cactus fruit is said to
turn urine red.1 Also red is
the popular dye and
natural food coloring that is
made from the cochineal
insect.4 Notice the soft
whitish gray filament on the
pads of cacti in which these
the insect live. Opuntia is
very nutritious and
medicinally rich.1
Prickly Pear Cactus, Clipart ECT
1b. Greenbrier
- Smilax sp.; Smilacaceae (Greenbrier family)
- Climbing shrub
- Found climbing on other plants. The Genus
Smilax is derived from the Greek smilakos, which
means twining (check out Smilax Greek
mythology!).1 The Spanish called it zarzaparilla,
which became the English name for the soft drink
sarsaparilla.1 Smilax is a monocot with parallel
venation. Some species have thorns and toothed
leaves.
- Well-coveted by natives for its medicinal
value.1 Tender new shoots resemble a walking
stick insect and can be eaten raw in small
quantities or
cooked like
asparagus.4
Young root-like
rhizomes
served as a
starch and can
be cooked and
eaten.4
Sweet Sarsaparilla, Clipart ECT
2b. Chalky Bluestem or Broomsedge
Bluestem
- Andropogon virginicus; Poaceae (Grass family)
- Ground cover
- On your right. Similar to a “man’s beard,” after
the hairy spikelets. It is fitting Andropogon comes
from the Greek andros (man) and pogon
(beard).1 Bluestem is a native warm-season
perennial grass that
reaches heights of 3 to
5ft.5 A powdery
“chalk” comes from the
base of the stem which
may help with water
retention (Give it a
touch!).
- Early settlers used
the grass stems as
brooms, hence the
common name.1
Broomsedge Blustem, Clipart
USDA-NRSC PLANTS
2c. Myrtle Oak
3. Sparkleberry or Farkleberry
- Quercus myrtifolia; Fagaceae (Beech family)
- Vaccinium arboreum; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Subcanopy or Shrub
- Shrub or Subcanopy
- Arboreum means “treelike,” for its hardwood
oak characteristics.1 Sparkleberry can grow
more than 20ft tall. Occurs naturally in upland
mixed forests, sandhills, coastal areas, and oak
scrub12. Leaves are alternate with white
flowers and shinny black berries. Berries have
5-calyx lobes or star
pattern that persists on
the fruit.4
- The berries are best
when ripe. All other
parts of the plant
(leaves, roots, and
bark) were used to
treat diarrhea and
dysentery.12
- On your left. Myrtle oak is an abundant
evergreen tree at the UCF Arboretum. Leaves are
simple, alternate, and oblong or tear drop
shaped. On the upper surface leaves are green
and shiny, on the bottom they are yellow to
brown and smooth.5 Myrtle belongs to a group of
red oak and produce acorns every two years.6
are small and normally grow individually.5 The
cap covers more than half of the entire acorn.
Myrtle Oak, Clipart ECT
Sparkleberry, Clipart USDA-NRSC
PLANTS
Myrtle Oak, Clipart ECT
2d. Rusty Staggerbush
- Lyonia ferruginea; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- On your left. Can reach higher than 15ft tall in
thick clusters of small to medium sized dark
green leaves. Rusty pubescence covers
beneath leaf and stem.5 White flowers between
January and April.12
- A popular shrub in
the ornamental plant
industry.12
Rusty Staggerbush, Clipart
eflora.org
4a. Pond Cypress
- Taxodium ascendens; Cupressaceae
(Cypress family)
- Canopy
- Grows between 50 to 60ft tall and is the
dominant canopy of the Cypress dome at the
UCF Arboretum.6 Leaves have a pointed spike
or awl-shaped that are stiff and upright.6
Foliage is deciduous
and turns light brown in
fall. Notice the “knees”
during early stages of
growth, although more in
common in Bald Cypress.
Normally located in
areas of still water.6
Pond Cypress,
NRSC PLANTS
Clipart
USDA-
4b. Blackberry
5b. Netted Pawpaw or Dog Banana
- Rubus sp.; Rosaceae (Rose family)
- Asimina reticulata; Annonaceae (Custard apple
family)
- Shrub
- Perennial shrub. Toothed 3 to 5 leaflets with
thorny vining stem and arching cane. White
flowers with 5 petals and many stamen.12
Berries ripen from reddish pink to black.
(Warning) rough and prickly, dress appropriately while hiking in areas of abundant
blackberry.
- Delivers an antioxidant rich aggregate fruit of
tiny drupelets.
Dried leaves
make a
medicinal tea.4
Blackberry, Clipart ECT
5a. Sand Pine
- Pinus clausa; Pinaceae (Pine Family)
- Canopy
- Clausa means closed, referring to the delayed
opening of cones that are triggered by fire.1
Resembles a Christmas tree (think Santa clausa!)
An evergreen conifer with small 2-3” needles,
2 per bundle.5 Mature Sand Pine can reach up
to 60ft, few remain past 100 years of age.13
- Usually located in sandy well-drained soil.
Seeds are well dispersed in frequent moderate
fire, although mature trees are typically
killed.13
- See Pinus palustris uses.
Pinus clausa, Clipart eflora.org
- Shrub
- Pawpaw is originally from the Taino papaya and is a native of Florida.1 Characterized
by its woody stems and
alternate, dark green, rough,
elliptic to oblong leaves.12
White flowers between
January and July.12 Try
crushing a leaf in your hand,
you may smell an aroma
similar to freshly cut green
bell peppers.
- Berries are oddly shaped,
green ripening to yellow and
edible. Taste and aroma
resemble a banana.1
Anne Murray, University
of Florida
6a. Adam’s Needle or Spanish Bayonet
- Yucca filamentosa; Agavaceae (Century plant
family)
- Shrub
- Pronounced (YUK-ka), not to be confused
with the common cultivated yuca (YEW-ka).4 A
perennial monocot with
trunk up to head height.
(warning) Leaves are
sharp at ends, hence the
name bayonet. Flowers
are white, leaning, and
bell-shaped.12 Notice
the frayed threads from
leaf margins.
- Leaves make strong
cordage. Roots have
been boiled and used as
soap from high saponin
content.13 Many skin
ailments were treated Yucca filamentosa, Clipart ECT
from root decoctions.13
6b. Chapman’s Oak
8. Wild Rosemary or Sand heath
- Quercus chapmanii; Fagaceae (Beech family)
- Subcanopy or Shrub
- On the left side of the yucca. Common in the
Southeastern United States making up a dense
subcanopy of scrub vegetation. Leaves are simple, alternate with smooth wavy margins and
- Ceratiola ericoides; Empetraceae (Crowberry
family)
- Shrub or Herb
- An evergreen shrub in sandy scrub soils
usually occurring with pine
and small oak13. Closely
related to plants from
Ericaceae (heath family).
Fire kills rosemary but
stimulates reproduction13.
Some endemic animals are
known to inhabit patches of
wild rosemary.
Chapman’s Oak, Clipart ECT
Florida Rosemary, Clipart ECT
7. Gopher Apple
- Licania michauxii; Chrysobalanaceae
(Chrysobalanus family)
- Dwarf shrub
- Scattered among the ground. Species named
after French botanist André Michaux (17461802).1 Gopher tortoises enjoy the low-lying
fruit, which led to the plants common name. Evergreen small shrub reaching about 1ft tall. Leaves
are alternate and oblong
with a smooth green upper
surface and visible venation.
White pubescent flower
clusters from March to August.12
Troy University Herbarium
9a. Sand Live Oak
- Quercus geminata; Fagaceae (Beech family)
- Subcanopy
- Evergreen small to large sized woody tree,
common in dry habitats. Sand live oak makes up
the dominant canopy in
the Oak Hammock.
Leaves are simple,
alternate, leathery, dark
green with curled or
scooped margins and
impressed veins.5 Leaf
veins are also coarse with
short hairy petioles and
dull gray undersides.5
Acorns are brown and
ellipsoid shaped in pairs.5
Quercus geminata, Clipart eFlora.org
9b. Spanish Moss or Graybeard
10a. Bracken Fern or Eagle Fern
- Tillandsia usneoides; Bromeliaceae (Pineapple
family)
- Pteridium aquilinum; Dennstaedtiales (Brake Fern
family)
- Vining herb
The name Usneoides originates from its
resemblance to the lichen Usnea.4 Spanish
moss is neither Spanish nor a moss, rather a
flowering plant.8 Grayish white linear and
awl-shaped leaves.12 Grows predominantly
on Sand live oak in the
Oak Hammock.
- Shrub
- Natives used the inner
dried fiber for everything
from cordage to a material
for fire arrows.13 Made into
a medicinal tea for fever
and colds.1
- Fern comes from the Greek pteris.1 The fronds
resemble an eagle’s wing and are separated
into 3 main sections.1 Plants are widely
distributed throughout the world.
- People have eaten
young fiddleheads
(curled buds) and
prepared medicinal
decoctions from the
plant pre-civilization,
although new
information suggests it
is carcinogenic when
eaten raw.4
Spanish Moss, Clipart USDANRSC PLANTS
Bracken Fern Clipart USDA-NRSC
9c. Christmas Wreath Lichen
10b. Muscadine Grape
- Cryptothecia rubrocincta; Arthoniaceae (Lichen/
Fungi family)
- Vitis rotundifolia; Vitaceae (Grape family)
- Lichen
- Look for a distinct red-ringed pigment found
growing on portions of Sand live oak in the Oak
Hammock. Lichens share a symbiotic beneficial
relationship between algae and fungus.11 The
fungus supplies
protection and allows
the algae to
photosynthesize which
provides food for
both.11
- Vine
- “Having flavor of musk,” from the Latin
muscatus.1 High climbing vines with single
tendrils (escaped hybrids have two tendrils).4
Alternate simple
leaves with clumps of
purple berries. Edible
berries help seed dispersal. Notable uses
are jams and wine.
Muscadine contain antioxidants which have
been used to slow the
aging process and
cancer growth.1
Gombamania, Andrea Kocziszky
2013
Muscadine, Clipart USDA-NRSC
PLANTS
11a. Long-leaf Pine
11c. Tarflower
- Pinus palustris; Pinaceae (Pine family)
- Bejaria racemosa; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Canopy
- Pinus (PIE-nus) is Latin for pine. Palustris comes
from Latin “of swamps,” a misnomer.1 Long
needles with 3-per bundle, cones are between 610”. Juveniles resemble a clump of green grass
before a rapid stage of primary growth5. Mature
trees may reach heights of 115 feet and live for
centuries.7 Pines have flourished in this region due
mainly to their ability to adapt and reproduce in
the presence of frequent fire regimes about every
2 to 5 years.10
- Shrub
- Genus named after botanist José Bejar.
Grows larger than 7 feet with upright
branches. Simple alternate leaves and
identified by hairy stems when not flowering
(think Behairia). Fragrant white and pink
flowers open between
April and September.12
Its common name
comes from sticky
tar-like flowers.
- Insects are observed
accidently entombing
themselves in the
flowers, perhaps being
absorbed by the plant
as they fall to the
ground.
- Pine needle tea is
prepared from live
needles and is resinous
and high in Vitamin C.
Sailors prepared this tea
to prevent scurvy.4 The
area between bark and
hardwood (cambium) has
been eaten as a famine
food.
Tarflower, Clipart eFlora.org
Long-leaf Pine, Clipart
NRSC PLANTS
USDA-
12a. Fetterbush
- Lyonia lucida; Ericaceae (Heath family)
11b. Wiregrass
- Aristida stricta; Poaceae (Grass family)
- Ground cover
- Thought of as a “relict,” or remnant of previous
climatic conditions. Some areas of wiregrass date
back 5,000 years.10 Upright clumps of grass,
blades resemble wire.5
Wiregrass flowers in the
summer following fire.10
Naturally selected to survive
frequent fire, wiregrass aids
in the exclusion of foreign
invasive plants and as a fuel
source to control fire
intensity.14 Fire suppression
leads to root competition
with hardwood oak.10
Reestablishment is difficult
after exclusion.10
Wiregrass, Clipart USDANRSC PLANTS
- Shrub
- Named after gardener John Lyon (1765-1814).1
Fetterbush is a common 3-5' tall shrub in pine and
scrub flatwoods.12 Leaves alternate and simple
with light veins that are shiny on top and dull
beneath. Small white and pink flower between
November and June,
woody stems are
brown to red.12
Fetterbush, Clipart USDA-NRSC
PLANTS
12b. Piedmont Staggerbush
13b. Shiny Blueberry
- Lyonia mariana; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Vaccinium myrsinites; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- Piedmont can reach up to 6ft tall. Leaves are
alternate, simple, and oblong.12 Dimmer than
fetterbush (Lyonia lucida) but wider than rusty
staggerbush (Lyonia ferruginea), the leaves are
also frequently spotted with black dots. “Rust”
forms on some plants
similar to rusty
staggerbush. Produces
white flowers and fruit
capsules.12
- Native Seminoles made
pipe bowls from Lyonia
wood1.
- Shrub
Piedmont, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
- Our most frequent local blueberry, V. myrsinites
is a 2ft tall evergreen shrub that grows in small
patches. Leaves are small, alternate, glossy
green, and ovate or spatulate to elliptical.12
Flowers are white and appear from November to
June. Berries have
5-calyx lobes or
star pattern that
persists on the
fruit.4
- Natives prized
this species for its
universal medicinal
application. Berries
are glossy black
Brevard County Herbarium
14a. Saw Palmetto
- Serenoa repens; Arecaceae (Palm family)
13a. Huckleberry or Dangleberry
- Gaylussacia frondosa; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- Named after French chemist Louis Joseph GayLussac. Frondosa means leafy.1 Huckleberry is a
perennial shrub reaching maturity at about 6ft.
Leaves are elliptic and lightly scattered among
the plant.12 You may notice a striking similarity
to blueberries (which are true berries).
Huckleberries have 10 drupe-like seeds and, in
the right light, you can see the small shiny
golden spots on the leaf underside.4
- Use fruit as you
would blueberry.
- Shrub
- The Genus Serenoa was named after botanist
Sereno Watson, which means calm in Latin.1,4
Repens meant reclining or “creeping.1,4
Shipwrecked Quakers described the taste of
berries as “rotten cheese steeped in tobacco
juice.”1,4 A monocot with erect or leaning
palmate leaves. Stems are saw-toothed and do
not continue into the leaf. The most common shrub
in the pine flatwoods, especially in areas left
unburned. Saw palmettos cover nearly 10% of
Florida and are a good source of honey for
pollinators.4
- The heart, berries, and petiole end of young
fronds are edible. Nutrient dense berries contain
high traces
of fatty oil
and sugar.1
Huckleberry, Clipart ECT
Saw palmetto, Clipart ECT
14b. Wax Myrtle or Southern Bayberry
15b. Winged Sumac
- Myrica cerifera; Myricaceae (Bayberry family)
- Rhus copallinum; Anacardiaceae (Cashew family)
- Subcanopy
- Near Creol Pond. From the Greek myrike,
referring to an Old world fragrant plant
(tamarisk).1 Cerifera means wax bearing.1 Wax
Myrtle is an evergreen shrub that can reach more
than 25ft tall. Leaves are simple, alternate, narrow,
and toothed at the apice.12 If crushed the leaves
excrete a pleasant aroma. Birds are fond of the
berries, which help the
plant to disperse.
- The berries are covered in
wax and can be boiled to
make aromatic candles.
Leaves are used as a
seasoning, rubbed on skin
as a mosquito repellent, an
extender for smoking
tobacco, and to improve
the foam in beer.1
Medicinal tea was made Wax Myrtle, Clipart ECT
- Shrub or Subcanopy
- Copallinum comes from copal (resin).1 Sumac is a
deciduous shrub reaching 20 or more feet. Leaves
are alternate, sessile and compound.12 Leaves turn
red during the fall. The flowers cluster near the top
and the fruit (drupe) are red and pubescent.12
Flowers appear from
June to September.12
Sumac comes from the
same family as poison
ivy, mangos, and
cashews.
15a. American Beautyberry
16a. Inkberry or Gallberry
- Callicarpa americana; Lamiaceae (Mint family)
- Ilex glabra; Aquifoliaceae (Holly family)
- Shrub
- A simple yet elegant name given by the “Father
of Taxonomy,” Carl Linnaeus.1 From the Greek
kalli (beautiful) and karpos (fruit).1 Beautyberry
grows to about 6ft with axillary clusters of flowers
and fruit around stems. Leaves are opposite and
hairy beneath.12
- Flowers and berries
are pink to purple and
have an unfavorable
taste, better used for
jam or jelly. Leaves
have been used as
poison to stun fish. A
medicinal tea can be
made from the berries
and roots.1,4
- Shrub
- Latin Ilex comes from the ancient name for
European holm oak tree. Glabra means without
pubescence, combining to form smooth oak
(misnomer).1,4 Inkberry is a very common
evergreen shrub in the
pine flatwoods. Light
green leaves are simple
and alternate. Notice
the “teeth” near the
margins at the apices.
Plants are dioecious,
meaning male and
female flowers are on
two separate plants.7
- A decaffeinated tea
can be made from
leaves. Fruit is black,
bitter, and non-edible.4
American Beautyberry, Clipart
USDA-NRSC PLANTS
- A refreshing ade can
be made from the acidic
fruit hairs, best before
rain.4
Winged Sumac, Clipart USDANRSC PLANTS
Inkberry, Clipart USDA-NRSC
PLANTS
16b. Highbush Blueberry
17a. Deerberry or Buckberry
- Vaccinium corymbosum; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Vaccinium stamineum; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- A 6 to 12ft tall native perennial. Leaves are
simple, alternate, and elliptic or ovate.12 Flowers
are white and 5-calyx lobes or star pattern that
persists on the berries.4 Berries are red and
ripen to a dark blue.
- Highbush and its
many hybrids are
the major cultivated
blueberry.13
- Shrub
- A species named after its protruding stamen,
making it easy to identify when flowering. The
plant can reach heights of up to 5ft.12 Leaves are
alternate and egg shaped. Berries have 5-calyx
lobes or star pattern that persists on the fruit.4
Like the name implies, deer as well as birds,
bears, and rabbits enjoy snacking on the berries
and leaves.4
- Taste ranges from
bitter to sweet. Best
when fully ripe.
Highbush Blueberry, Clipart USDA-NRSC
PLANTS
Vaccinium stamineum, Clipart
ECT
16c. Salt Myrtle
- Bacharris halimifolia; Asteraceae (Sunflower
family)
17b. Live Oak
- Shrub or Subcanopy
- Commonly found near the edges of moist
habitats.1 The plant reaches up to 15ft in length
and leaves are simple alternate with a shiny
green color above and dull underside.5 Near
the top leaves toothed surrounding the apices,
similar to a serrated ducks foot. White
paintbrush like flowers
in late summer and
fruit (achene) in fall.1,5
Great source of honey
for pollinators.13
- Once prized
medicinally and used
to treat a variety of
respiratory ailments.
Branches used to
remove spines of the
prickly pear cactus.1
- Canopy
- Commonly the dominant canopy in Southern
United States climax ecosystems.
Can reach an average height of 50ft with a
wide trunk and long thick branches, however,
this oak has yet to mature. Leaves are simple,
alternate, elliptical, and rigid.5 The top of the
leaf is dark green and shiny but dull and gray
on the underside.13 Oak makes a great building
material, specifically
boats. Acorns are edible
but usually bitter. They can
be made into a nutritious
flour if leached of tannin
and not compromised by
insects.1
- Quercus virginiana; (Beech family)
Salt Myrtle, Clipart USDA-NRSC
PLANTS
Live Oak, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
This concludes the Trail Guide at the UCF
Arboretum. The information provided here is
also relevant for portions of Central Florida
and Southeastern United States. You are
welcome to test your knowledge on our Scrub
flatwoods trail or come back anytime between
dusk and dawn. We hope you had a great time!
Notes: