![]() The underwater portion of this plant provides habitats for micro and macroinvertebrates. Pickerelweed is very important ecologically. The individual flowers will only last one day but the plant will flower from spring through fall. They will grow about 3 to 5 feet tall and flower with 3 to 4-inch purple-blue flower spikes. These plants have shiny green blade-shaped leaves and emerge in the springtime from under the water level. ![]() Pickerelweed, Pontederia cordata, is a Florida native and is found throughout the state in shallow wetland areas, edges of lakes, marshes, and ponds. Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida. Fish and Wildlife Beach Dune, Coastal Strand, and Maritime Hammock. Estimating the response of wildlife communities to coastal dune construction. Can you think of any beautiful spaces with sea oats? Sea oats may not be endangered but they are protected under Title XI Chapter 161 Section 242 of Florida Statute due to their ability to stabilize sand in coastal regions and protect coasts from erosion. Overall, the two types of dunes attracted similar types and numbers of vertebrates (Martin et al 2018). Differences were a result of rare species that were isolated to one area. Common species overlapped both natural and reconstructed dunes. After collecting 2537 photos, 33 species were recorded. In an effort to determine if this approach was offering a benefit to vertebrates, a study was conducted between June 2015 and June 2016 to compare natural coastal dunes and reconstructed coastal dunes. Reconstruction of coastal dunes is a common method of fighting climate change. So the next time you see a cattail remember, some may call it a super plant. The sap in between the leaves is an excellent starch and can be used to thicken stews and soups. The roots and cattails themselves can be cooked and turned into a sweet flour that has gluten similar to wheat. The honey-like substance of the plant near the root has been used as an antiseptic and for toothaches. The dried seed heads attached to their stalks can be dipped into oil and used as torches. Other fun facts – Cattails can be woven into baskets, hats, mats, and beds. Currently, scientists are exploring the possibility of using cattails as biofuel. Of course, any plant given the right conditions, albeit unnatural conditions, can become invasive and will need to be thinned out at times.Ĭattails can be used to prevent excess methane emissions in an effort to slow global warming. Spraying herbicides to kill them has a negative effect on the water quality and local wildlife. Unfortunately, cattails love phosphorous and can grow out of control and block out the sun while out-competing the native sawgrass. Once established, cattails grow up to 8 feet tall and multiply from thick, underground rhizomes.Ĭattails are used as a buffer between sugar farms and the Everglades where they remove phosphorous from the water before it flows into the Everglades. Cattail seeds can remain in a dormant stage for up to 100 years. They are so fascinating that in the late ’90s, NASA sent a Resurrection Fern on the space shuttle Discovery to watch it miraculously come to life in zero gravity.Ĭattails are a great haven for protective nesting areas for animals and birds. These ferns can be found from Florida to as far north as New York and as far west as Texas. ![]() Like all ferns, Resurrection Ferns reproduce from spores. In contrast, most plants can only lose 10% of their water content before their cells collapse and they die. Resurrection Ferns can lose up to 97% of their water content and still come back to life when water returns. Have you seen ferns that are curled up, brown, and appear to be dead? Simply add water and they miraculously uncurl and resurrect to a live, healthy, green fern. The fern does not steal any nutrients from its host and therefore will not harm the host. They will also gather nutrients that collect on the outer part of their host. Resurrection Ferns are air ferns that attach themselves to a host plant or rock and will get moisture and food from the air and rain. They have been seen growing on rocks and on the sides of buildings. Live Oaks and Cypress Trees are their favorite hosts. ![]() the Miracle fern lives on branches and trunks of trees. ![]() Resurrection Fern – Pleopeltis polypodioides ![]()
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