A Field Trip through Florida Flora and Fauna

[HardeeParty]

I’m often out and about working in the field and stumble upon breathtaking examples of often overlooked and under appreciated slices of nature that Florida has to offer.

My neck of the woods is filled with marsh/wetlands ripe with both native and invasive wildlife of all flavors; I want to start a thread where I can document and share.

I’ll update this thread whenever I capture something noteworthy. Much of what catches my eye is aquatic flora, but I try and document anything captivating. I hope you find this as beautiful and fascinating as I do.

 

[HardeeParty]

And stumbled across this stunning and seemingly unassuming spot today:

 

[HardeeParty]

It’s a shame Ludwigia octovalvis isn’t a true aquatic because it sure is beautiful.





Canals and waterways are loaded with Hygrophilla polysperma that gets brilliant orange under high light and co2.





Anyone need some water lettuce?

 

[HardeeParty]

Observation habitat:





Same Hygrophila in a tank:

 

[HardeeParty]

Some wild Samolus valerandi and Ludwigia palustris today out in a bog area.







Bacopa monnieri factory:



Habitat where everything was located.

 

[HardeeParty]

Neat comparison of emersed L. repens vs L. palustris ‘super red mini’ growth.

 

[*Ci*]

Are many of these native species or mostly introduced or invasives?
In either case it’s neat to see them in the wild!

 

[FrankZ]

This is awesome. Love seeing your observations. I saw those flooded trees and wanted to grab my duck hunting gear.

I can myself sending you a lot of “what’s this?” Photos this summer when I take the kids out fishing the creeks and swamps.

 

[HardeeParty]

Are many of these native species or mostly introduced or invasives?
In either case it’s neat to see them in the wild!

It’s a mix. Some are native (bacopa), some are invasive (ludwigia) and some are on the Federal Noxious Weed list (alternanthera, Limnophila sessiliflora, salvinia, myriophyllum, pistila, etc).

 

[HardeeParty]

A wild Myriophyllum aquaticum field appears…

 

[CMooner]

A wild Myriophyllum aquaticum field appears…

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Lucky you! I couldn’t take the heat or the bugs

 

[HardeeParty]

Found some pretty stuff today.

Persicaria minor





Samolus valerandi and habitat



Cant remember this one. Pretty though. Not a true aquatic unfortunately.

 

[HardeeParty]

Oh and some Samolus valerandi flowering.

 

[HardeeParty]

Ludwigia peploides (?)
Proserpinaca palustris
Myriophyllum aquaticum (both emersed and submersed growth.)

 

[HardeeParty]

Rotala and Lindernia in bloom.

 

[HardeeParty]

Gnarly giant Cuban Knight anole (Anolis equestris) trolling the library parking lot yesterday.







Dude was mean-muggin me. Completely opposite behavior from your typical native/invasive lizards around here. The closer I got, the closer he was to leaping from the tree and ripping my neck out.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

That’s the biggest anole I’ve ever seen, normally just see the little guys out and about. We have skinks here too, beautiful colors and FAST!

 

[Koan]

I’m often out and about working in the field and stumble upon breathtaking examples of often overlooked and under appreciated slices of nature that Florida has to offer.

My neck of the woods is filled with marsh/wetlands ripe with both native and invasive wildlife of all flavors; I want to start a thread where I can document and share.

I’ll update this thread whenever I capture something noteworthy. Much of what catches my eye is aquatic flora, but I try and document anything captivating. I hope you find this as beautiful and fascinating as I do.

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What's the spiky-leaved one, do you know?

 

[HardeeParty]

What's the spiky-leaved one, do you know?

Proserpinaca palustris, likely the ‘Cuba’ variant.

That exact plant as it transitioned in-tank:

 

[Koan]

Proserpinaca palustris

OK that's what I thought looks so different from the other Proserpinaca shot, I guess immersed in the wild?