Alert - probably a fairly boring blog entry to most :-)
Cayo Costa Island has been managed to have only plants native/indigenous to Florida. Being a sub-tropical climate, the variety of plants is impressive. The tropics do not suffer empty space for long - plants grow quickly and large.
The plants do need to be adapted to the two-season climate - a wet season where it rains nearly every day, and a dry season where rain is sparse.
Following is a collection of photos of Florida plants, as found on Cayo Costa. Some obvious species are identified - many are not.
Trees
Three common native trees are the cabbage palm - named for the edible content deep in the trunk, long-leaf pines, and live oaks, an extremely strong wood used in early ship building.
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| Cabbage Palm |
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| Long Leaf Pine |
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| Live Oak with Spanish Moss |
Shrubs, Vines, Flowers, and Berries
Some examples of the rich variety of tropical plants:
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| Some colorful berries - American Beauty Berries |
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| Colorful Flower on salt-tolerant vine - Morning Glory |
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| Looks like a small apple - Coco Plum |
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| Tropical pricklers are mean - Nicker Beans |
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| 'Air' Plants growing on a palm - Pencil Fern? |
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| Poison Ivy is a native vine - beware! |
Sorry that more of the plants are not identified. We have a National Audubon Field Guide to Florida, but it is so detailed that if you don't know what you are looking for - you probably won't find it.
PS Additional identification provided by Ranger Mary of Florida Parks - thank you Mary!
Tom
Pelican Bay
Cayo Costa Island
Lee County, Florida
Map 2012-2013 Cruise
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