Now walk into the dead-end area with the bench at the far end.  Specimens may be viewed from left to right.

Common name:    Beach Sunflower, June Sunflower Botanical name:    Helianthus debilis Family name:         Asteraceae A bed of Beach Sunflower is a glorious sight.  Found in sandy coastal areas in Florida it flowers all year round in Southern Florida.  It is an ideal plant for dry, sandy areas and declines if poor drainage or if the soil is too rich. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 65. Internet reference

Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 214-215.

Common name:     Coral Plant, Firecracker Plant Botanical name:     Russelia equisetiformis Family name:           Scrophulariaceae This perennial plant is not native to North America but comes from Tropical America and Mexico.  The bright green, arching branches of the Coral Plant, which bear 1 to 2 inch long tubular scarlet flowers like firecrackers, may cascade out 3 feet or more making it an excellent choice for hanging baskets. The plant blooms abundantly year around if given optimum conditions. Internet reference

Common name:     Scarlet Rosemallow Botanical name:     Hibiscus coccineus Family name:           Malvaceae The Scarlet Hibiscus is a shrub-like herbaceous perennial that dies back in winter and re-sprouts in spring. Established plants can have one to several stems up to 7' tall. The five-petaled flowers are brilliant crimson red and 6"- 8" across. Each lasts only a day but new ones continue to open all summer and fall and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The leaves are divided palmately (hand-like) into 3-7 narrow, pointed, serrated lobes. The scarlet hibiscus occurs naturally in swamps, marshes and ditches, from southern Georgia and Alabama to central Florida. It does best in full sun in a moist soil. – Darrin Duling.

Common name:     Pond Cypress Botanical name:    Taxodium  ascendens Family name:          Taxodiaceae   This species, often confused with Bald Cypress, is smaller in stature and has very delicate, thread-like foliage that is just appearing in this picture.  It is wider at the base than the Bald Cypress. Bald Cypress, a conifer, gets its name from its unique habit of dropping its needles in the winter season. This tree may live for thousands of years and grow up to 120’ tall with an enormous girth. It forms dense forests in the southeastern swamplands and is a common tree of the Everglades. Another unique feature are its “knees” which project upwards from its root system that allow it to breathe in flooded conditions – much like we can breathe underwater through a soda straw! Strangely, these trees are very drought resistant in gardens. Its rot-resistant wood is highly valued for timber. Centuries of harvesting have left very few large specimens remaining.  A good place to see some of these lingering giants is in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary near Naples, Florida. – Darrin Duling

Note:  Unfortunately, P. cochleata was stolen from this site in 2008. Northen, Rebecca Tyson. 1970. Home Orchid Growing. Von Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York. Page 158.

Common name:    Green Buttonwood Botanical name:    Conocarpus erectus (erecta)(shrub form) Family name:         Combretaceae These three bushes behind Ironwood are the shrub form of Buttonwood described below for the common tree form.

Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 288-289. Internet reference

Mounted on a cypress tree is this unusual Florida native orchid, Prosthechea cochleata.  It was formerly known as Epidendrum cochleatum and then as Encyclia cochleata.  The shape of the upside-down flowers suggests an octopus.  The yellow-green sepals and petals stream down from the greenish, purple lip that is almost black on the reverse side. It takes many months for a flower stem to elongate and then produce a succession of flowers.  Our specimen is in bloom almost all the time.

Common name:     Florida Buttonwood Botanical name:   Conocarpus erectus 'Momba' Family name:          Combretaceae Buttonwood is named for its hard, durable heartwood that actually was used to make clothing buttons. It is native to coastal forests and lagoons throughout tropical America and West Africa. In nature this tree grows like a mangrove, forming dense thickets of shrubby growth, but when grown in the open it becomes a beautiful broad-spreading tree up to 60 feet in height. Buttonwood is evergreen, fast-growing, pest-free, drought and salt-tolerant. It is also one of the best trees on which to establish epiphytic orchids.

a wonderful, endangered collector’s item. Carla, Paul, and Beth Craig donated the Buccaneer Palm – Darrin Duling.

Common name:     Alligator Flag Botanical name:     Thalia geniculata Family name:           Marantaceae        Alligator Flag is an aquatic plant with reedy stems visible above the water level. It may grow to 6 feet tall.  Three-lobed violet-purple flowers are small but lovely.  This is an attractive plant for wet areas.  A similar Florida native species, Thalia dealbata, has smaller leaves with a white powdery covering.  Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber press, Portland. Page 339.

Common name:      Buccaneer Palm, Sargent’s Cherry Palm Botanical name:     Pseudophoenix sargentii  Wendland ex Sargent Family name:          Arecaceae A native of the Florida Keys, Mexico, and the Caribbean basin, the Buccaneer Palm is now nearly extinct in the wild in South Florida.  Best grown near the seashore, it is free of pests and requires very little watering.  Unfortunately it is very slow growing, taking 5-10 years to reach planting size, and making it expensive but

Near the entrance to the Vaughn Focus Garden are Scarlet Rosemarrow and a Pond Cypress.

Common name:      Coontie, Florida Arrowroot      Botanical name:      Zamia pumila, Z. floridana Family name:            Zamiaceae This Floridian cycad  has been used as a source of starch. Cycads are prehistoric plants, very adaptable and easy to cultivate. Male and female plants are separate (dioecious) and the reproductive cones emerge in late winter. Beetles pollinate these plants and birds aid in seed dispersal. The larvae of the Atala butterfly feeds on the leaves of the Coontie in South Florida.  Internet reference

Common name:     Giant Leather Fern Botanical name:     Acrostichum danaeifolium Family name:           Pteridaceae The Giant Leather Fern is a native of Florida, frequently found in brackish and freshwater marshes. Florida is the only state where Florida’s largest fern is found, but it also occurs in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  It will grow to eight feet tall and ten feet wide so it needs lots of room to look its best. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 49-50.

Chapman's Senna (Senna mexicana var. chapmanii) was previously described. Here is a specimen in flower.

Common name:     Sea Grape Botanical name:     Coccoloba uvifera Family name:           Polygonaceae Native to Florida and South America, Sea Grape is a shrub along coastal dunes and a tree inland. Briefly deciduous in the spring it then flowers in the spring. The female shrub bears fruit, one-seeded berries, purple when ripe, that make a delicious jelly and provide food for birds and small animals. Randall L. Bliven donated this specimen. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 242-243.

Common name:     Royal Fern Botanical name:    Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis Family name:          Osmundaceae This variety is the American form of the Royal Fern.  The finely divided erect fronds create a delicate statuesque appearance.  It is deciduous in most of the USA but is evergreen in southern Florida.  Osmunda fiber used in the potting of orchids comes from the fibrous roots of these ferns. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 53-54.

Several Marble-Berry bushes, previously described,  are in this area. A large specimen is adjacent to the Buttonwood tree.

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Please walk toward the stairs to the boardwark to views the specimens on the right.

Please walk back on the path to the Chickee Hut.  Across is the Bucanner Palm. Start here to view specimens in the dead-end island.

Common name:     Tetrazygia Botanical name:     Tetrazygia bicolor Family name:           Melastomataceae Tetrazygia is an evergreen shrub growing 6-12 feet tall.  Characteristic of the melastomes are the flossy, dark green leaves with checkered veins making a sculptured effect.  Contrasting white flowers with long yellow anthers appear profusely in the spring, covering the plant. Pruning is not advised as the branches will die back. This shrub may be found in front of Inkwood tree and behind Starry Rosinwood.

Common name:     Bear’s Paw Botanical name:     Phlebodium aureum cv. Mandianum Family name:           Polypodiaceae Phlebodium aureum, the Golden Polypody Fern, is a native of Florida and is found south  to Argentina.  The cultivar, Mandianum, is a crested form.  This fern is evergreen and epiphytic in nature but adapts to cultivation. The rhizomes, which creep along the ground or on the surfaces it climbs, are covered with golden yellow 'hairs', hence the names referring to rabbit's foot, hare's foot, or bear's foot. Morningstar Nursery donated this specimen. – Darrin Duling

Common name:    Florida-Privet Botanical name:    Forestiera segregata Family name:         Oleaceae Before leaving this dead-end area there is a grouping of Florida-Privet.  Evergreen in south Florida, it has stiff, dense branches making it sutiable for a screening hedge plant. The small-leaved form, F. segregata var. pinetorum, is suitable for a small hedge or specimen plant. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 184.

Common name:     Satinleaf Tree Botanical name:     Chrysophyllum oliviforme Family name:           Sapotaceae A unique and spectacular visual effect is this Florida native’s claim to fame; when the wind blows, its leaves flip up and its dark green canopy turns to rich, shimmering gold. This characteristic comes from dense, satiny golden fibers that cover the underside of the leaves. In contrast to the remarkable foliage, Satinleaf flowers are tiny, greenish-white and fairly inconspicuous. These precede edible fruits that resemble small black olives.

Fakahatchee Grass around the deck was described previously.

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Bernard Simpson donated the staircase and boardwalk landing. The Boardwalk and Deck were generously underwritten by Barbara J. Ansley.

Common name:     Cinnamon Buttercup, Yellow Alder Botanical name:     Turnera ulmifolia Family name:           Turneraceae   T. ulmifolia is a perennial, dense, compact shrub that reaches 2½ feet in height. it blooms sporadically all year long. The yellow blooms are 2½ inches across and last only one day. In Brazil this plant is known as chanana. A tea from the plant, chanana tea, has been used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.  Studies have shown that extracts of the plant do protect

Common name:      Cinnamon Bark Botanical name:     Canella winterana Family name:           Canellaceae Cinnamon Bark is a handsome evergreen tree that has become extremely rare in south Florida. It grows slowly to an ultimate height of 40’, forming a dense crown of shiny leaves. In winter months clusters of small red and purple flowers appear, and these are followed in spring by attractive red berries. Once established, this tree is very drought-tolerant and can be pruned to any desired shape. Given these qualities, it is an ideal choice for small-space gardens in our area. Although the inner bark of this tree is sometimes used commercially as a cinnamon substitute and a tobacco flavoring, it is not  the source of true cinnamon.

Common name:    Yaupon Holly Botanical name:    Ilex vomitoria `Schillings Dwarf' Family name:         Aquifoliaceae More information is provided for another Yaupon Holly variety on the Boardwalk.  This dwarf variety grows to about 3 feet tall and spreads 3-4 feet as a dense evergreen shrub.

against ulcers induced in experimental animals. Internet reference Internet reference

Common name:     Wild-Allamanda Botanical name:     Pentalinon luteum Family name:           Apocynaceae An evergreen twining vine, P. luteum has glossy leaves and bright yellow flowers from spring through autumn. Stems may grow to 12 feet and may need occasional pruning.  It is showy, nearly indestructible and very salt tolerant. Darrin Duling donated this specimen. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 291-292.

On the boardwalk walking toward the right (westward) will bring the following plants into view.

Common name:     Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palm Botanical name:     Sabal palmetto Family name:          Arecaceae Cabbage Palm is the state tree of Florida and is displayed on the state flag of South Carolina whose nickname is the "Palmetto State".  It has a single un-branching trunk that grows 40-70 feet. Cabbage palm leaves are said to be costapalmate meaning that the leaflets are arranged on the stem in a pattern that is midway between palmate (leaflets arranged like the fingers on the palm of your hand) and pinnate (feather shaped).  Leaves emerge directly from the trunk and leave behind “boots” that collect organic debris and provide a home for orchids, ferns and moss. The central growing point has been removed and eaten as hearts of palm.  This practice kills the tree and has been outlawed. Sabal palmetto is very salt, drought, and frost tolerant and can be used in beachside plantings. It is easily transplanted; the leaves are cut off and the roots cut back giving the appearance of telephone poles. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 150-152. Internet reference

Common name:     Everglades Palm, Paurotis Palm Botanical name:     Acoelorrhaphe wrightii ‘Argentinii’ Family name:           Palmaceae This evergreen fan palm produces new trunks from the bases of older trunks creating an artistic mass of foliage from the ground up.  It thrives in the brackish wetlands of the Everglades and can grow to 30 feet.  Flower stalks appear in the summer followed by berries that start out orange and turn to black. It needs lots of space and pruning gives a mangled appearance. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 145.

Common name:      Velvetseed Botanical name:     Guettarda elliptica Family name:           Rubiaceae         G. elliptica is a large shrub that may grow to 20 feet in south Florida.  Flowering and fruit production may occur all year, especially in the spring.  The flowers are white to reddish-pink and the berries are purple.  This plant has a low salt tolerance, making it unsuitable for planting near the coast. Rufino Osorio donated this specimen. Internet reference

Common name:     Swamp Maple, Red Maple Botanical name:    Acer rubrum Family name:          Aceraceae A native decidous tree, Acer rubrum is found in eastern North America including southern Florida.  It grows well in swampy areas but is intolerant of fire. The leaves are reddish (rubrum) in the spring turning green but with reddish veins. In the fall the leaves are ablaze in yellow, orange and scarlet red. This tree is located in the dead-end path near the bench.  Internet reference

Common name:    Jamaican Lilac, tropical Lilac Botanical name:    Cornutia grandifloria Family name:          Verebenaceae From Central America, C. grandifloria flowers spring-summer with lavender-blue flowers looking like lilacs. It is an evergreen shrub growing 12-15 feet. Internet reference

Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 91.

Note: Please, DO NOT attempt to harvest your own samples; only a very specific, thin layer of inner bark is usable – all other parts of this plant can be poisonous if ingested! – Darrin Duling

Common name:     Mangrove Vine, Rubber Vine Botanical name:     Rhabdenia biflora Family name:          Arecaceae As the common name implies, Mangrove Vine does best in moist, brackish areas associated with mangroves.  It is evergreen and flowers at the ends of the stems whenever it is warm with white blossoms ringed with pink. Pruning induces more branches and flowers.  This vine can also be grown as a potted plant, flowering while still small. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 292.

Common name:     Yaupon Holly Botanical name:     Ilex vomitoria ‘Jewel’ Family name:           Aquifoliaceae Native to SE Virginia, to Florida to Texas, Yaupon Holly, like boxwood, can be used as a hedge or pruned to any size or shape.   Its foliage contains a high concentration of caffeine.  In small amounts the dried leaves make a pleasant tea. In larger amounts they induce vomiting, hence the botanical name vomitoria. Bok Tower Gardens donated these specimens. – Darrin Duling

The bark is an excellent home for orchids and other air plants. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 252-253.

Fruits ripen to look like blueberries in the rainy season but are not too palatable for people. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 237.  Internet reference

Native Americans used to relish these fruit for their sweet flavor and chewy consistency. Satinleaf likes full sun, ample moisture, and reaches a size of 50’. – Darrin Duling

Common name:     Coral Honeysuckle Botanical name:     Lonicera sempervirens Family name:           Caprifoliaceae Coral Honeysuckle is a twining woody vine that is evergreen in mild climates but deciduous in colder areas.  In spring and summer tubular orange-red flowers appear followed by small red berries.  Hummingbirds adore the flowers and birds and small animals enjoy the berries.  This vine has poor salt tolerance but does well in poor soil subject to drought.

Common name:    Ironwood, American Hornbeam, Musclewood, Blue Beech Botanical name:    Carpinus caroliniana Family name:         Betulaceae (Beech family) C. caroliniana is native to North America where it grows as a small tree shaded by large trees above in rich, moist woodlands.  It is decidous with variable leaf color changes during autumn. Musclewood refers to the sinewy trunk and main branches resembling a body builder.  Ironwood alludes to its very hard wood used for mallots, tool handles, and bowls.  Blue Beech relates to its smooth blue-gray bark.  "Hornbeam" comes from the German for "tough tree." Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 240 Internet reference

Another Sea Lavender is on the corner.  Please cross over to the other side of the main path and go down the stairs to the Florida Native Garden Boardwalk.  You will be greeted by a Coral Honeysuckle Vine entwined on the railing.

Mounted on Conocarpus erectus 'Momba' is Cyrtopodium punctatum. This orchid species grows in swamp land in Argentina, Mexico, the Caribbean and in the swamps of South Florida. The huge sprays are a remarkable sight.  Merciless pilfering has left these plants only in the inaccessible areas of the most remote swamps in Florida. Internet reference

Common name:     Yellowtop, False Goldenrod Botanical name:     Flaveria linearis Family Name:          Asteraceae Yellowtop is a vigorous and easily grown perennial wildflower. The individual flower heads are small but a mass of these brilliant yellow flowers held high on sturdy stalks is a beautiful sight.  Yellowtop is readily propagated from cuttings and is pest and drought resistant, making it an ideal beginner’s plant.  Be careful when pruning this plant as the sap may make the skin blister when exposed to sunlight.

Common name:     Bald Cypress Botanical name:    Taxodium distichum Family name:          Taxodiaceae As its common name implies, Bald Cypress is deciduous in winter with a pyramidal form and brown exfoliating bark.  In the spring yellowish green leaves sprout along the branches expanding to become a soft dark green mantle.  In autumn the leaves turn to reddish brown before falling. It enjoys a sunny spot in moist soil.  This was one of the first New World species brought home to England in 1637. Bald Cypress is the state tree of Louisiana. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 226-227. Internet reference

Common name:     Raspberry Bells Botanical name:    Strobilanthes flacillidifolius Family name:           Acanthaceae Spectacular shows of dainty rose-pink blooms arise from this fast-growing species from midsummer to early fall. The small 1" bell-shaped flowers dangle in clusters from wispy stems. It is a hardy but uncommon species from tropical Asia.

Common name:    Swamp Dogwood Botanical name:    Cornus foemina Family name:         Cornaceae

Common name:     Seaside Goldenrod Botanical name:     Solidago sempervirens Family name:           Asteraceae Seaside Goldenrod is perhaps the nicest of Florida’s goldenrods, thriving on coastal dunes and tidal marshes.  Yellow flowers appear in warm weather on spikes up to 4 feet tall on this erect perennial. To avoid spreading underground rhizomes in cultivation, it should be grown in a rather dry site in full sun to encourage flowers rather than foliage. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 127.

Common name:     Pond Apple, Alligator Apple Botanical name:    Annona glabra Family name:          Annonaceae Native throughout the West Indies and north to Florida, Pond Apple is a predominant species in the Everglades and grows well along ponds and in swamps. Its fruit matures in late summer and autumn and is edible but without flavor so that it is not grown commercially.  The messy fruits rot on the ground (animals do not seem to enjoy the fruit either!) and produce numerous seedlings if not removed.

On the lake side of Fakahatchee Grass are a Sea Grape and an Autograph Tree, both previously described.

Lake Huntington Lake Huntington was named in honor of Merritt Huntington.  He served on the AOS’s Board for 25 years, as President of the AOS from 1974-1976, and as an AOS judge for nearly 50 years.  Under his leadership as Chairman of the Development Committee, the AOS selected this site for its home and planned the Visitors Center and Botanical Garden. Merritt was a two-time recipient of the Gold Medal of Achievement, the AOS’s highest honor. Sadly, Merritt Huntington passed away in February 2005.  He will be sorely missed.

Swamp Dogwood is a large shrub that is mostly deciduous and is the most common species of dogwood in Florida.  It is native to wet sites where it will grow in shallow water but also does well in drier areas. Masses of white flowers with four petals appear in the spring. Tropical Pond and Garden donated this specimen. Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. Page 246.

The following specimens are located in or around the water in the center of the boardwalk.

Our specimen is a cultivated variety called “Momba” which has larger leaves than the average buttonwood. – Darrin Duling

To the right of the Bucaneer Palm is a stone path to the dead-end area.  Just to the right of the stone path is Velvet Seed.

Common name:      Myrtle-of- the-River      Botanical name:      Calyptranthes zuzygium Family name:            Myrtaceae Myrtle-of-the-River is an uncommon, endangered small, shrubby tree.  Along with the more common  Spicewood (Calyptranthes pallens) in the myrtle family, it can be identified by the two opposite pinkish new leaves at the end  of each branchlet. In early summer it puts on a show of fragrant, white flowers with contrasting pink-tipped flower buds.

The next and last garden on this virtual tour is the Vaughn Focus Garden.  Please enter the Vaughn Focus Garden from the Courtyard cul-de-sac area.