Enter the new Lake Huntington Walk near the Chickee Hut. The following specimens are located on the right side as you enter. A large Live Oak has been described previously.

sucrose.  Note the colorful red stems in this plant. Internet reference

it is highly adaptable and succeeds very well in climates ranging from warm temperate to tropical.   Internet reference

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Common name:     Dinner Plate Fig Botanical name:     Ficus dammaropsis Family name:         Moraceae This is an uncommon fig from New Guinea with large pleated leaves.  It may only produce fruit in its native area where its insect pollinator is restricted.  Internet reference

Common name:     Ghost Palm Botanical name:     Mauritiella armata Family name:          Arecaceae From South America, this palm has multiple spiny trunks The palmate leaves are deeply segmented with a silvery undersurface. This tree likes lots of water and full sun. Internet reference

Common name:     Screw Pine Botanical name:    Pandanus sanderi Family name:         Pandanaceae From Malaysia, P. sanderi is a slow-growing, suckering shrub that seldom branches and rarely flowers. The arching spiny leaves become green with yellow stripes when mature.  Internet reference

The Australian Tree Fern and the Teak Tree located here have been described previously.

Common name:    Wineleaf Costus, Blood Red Spiral Costus, Oxblood Ginger Botanical name:   Costus erythrophyllus Family name:        Zingiberaceae From South America, C. erythrophyllus is noted for the striking leaf colors – bright green on top and reddish-purple underneath.  It may grow to five feet and flowers in the summer. Internet reference

Common name:     Variegated Ginger     Botanical name:     Alpinia sanderae Family name:           Zingiberaceae    A. sanderae from New Guinea is an easy and hardy foliage plant for moist, shady areas.  Growing to about 16 inches, its pale green leaves are obliquely banded with white.  Internet reference

Common name:    Malakmalak Botanical name:    Palaquium  philippense Family name:         Sapotaceae From the Philippines, P. philippense, one of the tallest forest trees, is also known as Palacpalac. It evolved from the Pampango term Palakpalak, a name used in reference to malakmalak. Malakmalak is a tree reaching a height of about 25 meters and a diameter of about 80 centimeters. The leaves are borne on long stalks in small clusters. The USDA National repository in Miami donated this specimen. Internet reference

Common name:     Beehiver Ginger Botanical name:     Zingiber spectabilis Family name:          Zingiberaceae This Ginger from Tropical Asia has a striking flowerhead with white and yellow bracts that does look like a beehive.  Internet reference

Common name:   Budda Belly Costus Botanical name:   Costus guanaiensis var. tarmicus Family name:        Zingiberaceae A beautiful tropical ginger from Ecuador with large yellow flowers. The flowers are eaten in salads. Sour, aromatic juice is squeezed from stalks, diluted and sweetened for juice. Internet reference

Common name:     Red Latan Palm Botanical name:     Latania lontaroides Family name:          Arecaceae From the cliffs and coastal ravines of the Mascarene Island of Reunion (near Madagascar), this palm has a reddish color to its leaves.  It is almost extinct in its natural habitat. Internet reference Internet reference

Common name:     Cat's Whiskers Botanical name:     Orthosiphon stamineus Family name:          Lamiaceae Originating from East Asia, this herbaceous perennial bears flower spikes with long white stamens that look like whiskers - hence the common name. Dried leaves are used to make Java tea with unproven medicinal effects. Internet reference Internet reference

Common name: Botanical name:    Alocasia brancifolia Family name:         Araceae From New Guinea,  this unusual Alocasia has deeply lobed leaves that become more exagerated as it grows. Internet reference

Common name:     Tropical Snowball Botanical name:     Dombeya burgessiae`Seminole' Family name:          Malvaceae (formerly Steruliaceae) The deep pink cup-shaped flowers appear in clusters from fall to spring.  This hybrid was made at the USDA Subtropical Horticulture research station in Miami, Florida between D. burgessiae 'Rosemound'. a wild-collected pink selection from Africa, and a locally cultivated D. burgessiae. `Rosemound' was never distributed and was destroyed during hurricane Andrew in 1992. 'Seminole' makes an outstanding flowering hedge. Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 267.

Common name:     Pine Cone Ginger Botanical name:    Alpinia purpurata 'Pure White' Family name:         Zingiberaceae A. purpurata was previously described in the Jungle Garden where pink and red varieties are shown.  Here is a white variet\y.

Common name:    Rose of Venezuela Botanical name:    Brownea grandiceps Family name:         Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinoideae From South America this small, slow growing tree has striking large, red flowers hanging eneath the foliage. The multiple pairs of lesflets have an elongatedc apex. Young leaves are pale green with reddish brown mottling.  Internet reference

Common name:    Costa Rican Guava Botanical name:    Psidium friedrichsthalianum Family name:         Myrtaceae From Central and South America, this tree grows to about 25 feet with wiry branches.  The fruit has soft, white acidic flesh that is not mushy.  it is used mostly to make jelly. Internet reference

Common name:    Black Sapote Botanical name:    Diospyros digyna Family name:         Ebenaceae This evergreen tree from Mexico grows to 80 feet.  It can grow in Palm Beach County if protected from frost when young. The greenish fruit when ripe has soft flesh like stewed prunes and is used to make desserts. Internet reference

Common name: Botanical name:    Erythrochiton brasiliensis Family name:         Rutaceae A small treelet from South America, it grows to eight feet tall, producing white flowers with a showy red calyx all year. Internet Reference

Common name:    Fingernail Bromeliad Botanical name:   Aechmea cruenta Family name:         Bromeliaceae This group of bromeliads from Brazil has red leaf tips, hence the name “painted fingernails”.

Common name:    Dwarf Chenille Botanical name:    Acalypha pendula Family name:         Euphorbiaceae This ground-hugging, fine-textured relative of the more common chenille plant grows no more than several inches tall. In the full sun it forms a thick canopy of tiny, serrated leaves no more than 3/4 inches long by 1/2 inches wide. Bright red, flowers stand erect above the foliage like soldiers in a field. Internet reference

Common name:     Velvet Apple Botanical name:     Diospyros blancoi Family name:          Ebenaceae This is a large tree, 50-100 feet, from the Philippines. Male and female flowers are produced on separate trees and both flowers are necessary for pollination and fruit set. The velvet-like skin is red to purple.  The fruit is mildly sweet and somewhat mealy and is eaten fresh or in salads or dessert. Unfortunately this tree is barely known around the world. Internet reference

Common name: Botanical name:    Costus spicatus Family name:          Costaceae  This plant produces a short cylindrical red cone with red-orange flowers emerging one at a time and used as a cut flower.  A specific species of ant  is often attracted that  protects the seeds under the bracts and  gets food in return. Internet reference

Common name: Botanical name:    Aechmea mulfordii Family name:          Bromeliaceae From Brazil, this plant reaches over 3 feet tall and has deep purple foliage.  The inflorescence has yellow-orange branches.  Aechmea mulfordii 'Rubra'  is the only 'true' mulfordii currently in cultivation, Internet reference

Common name:     Red Jade Vine Botanical name:     Mucuna bennettii Family name:          Leguminosae From New Guinea, this vine produces long 3 to 4 foot racemes of  cascading brilliant red flowers.  It needs room to spread and can climb a large tree or pergola.  The roots should be in the shade. Internet reference

Common name:     The Tapioca Plant, Cassava Botanical name:     Manihot esculenta, variegated cultivar Family name:          Euphorbiaceae From Brazil, Cassava has been grown in Florida gardens for more than a hundred years.  Several hundred acres in South Florida are devoted to producing the roots for the fresh vegetable market. Care must be taken to remove the poisonous cyanide from the roots. Internet reference

Common name:    Sugar Cane Botanical name:    Saccharum officinarum Family name:         Poaceae Sugar cane is a tall grass which looks like a bamboo cane. The thicker stemmed forms are commonly known as 'thick' or 'noble' canes because of their tall, handsome and colorful stems. The top producers of cane sugar are Brazil and India. The juice from processed canes is evaporated leaving sucrose as a brown sugar that is refined to white sugar, almost 100%

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. The Lake Huntington Walk, planned and developed by Pat Jennings, former head Gardener, and Nick Ewy, Director of the gardens and greenhouse, is dedicated to the memory of Merritt Huntington.

Common name:     Tahitian Gardenia, Symbol Flower Botanical name:     Gardenia taitensis Family name:          Rubiaceae G. taitensis is the national flower of Tahiti.  The 6-7 petaled gardenia flower has asweet fragrance.  The plant likes the sun and warmth.  The glossy leaves spread but can be trimmed. Internet reference

Common name:    Variegated Spiral Costus  Botanical name:    Costus amazonicus variegata Family name:          Zingiberaceae A native of Ecuador and Peru, this ginger is grown for its gorgeous foliage and quite remarkable flowers. The leaves are arranged spirally around the stems in much the same fashion as other costus gingers.

Common name:     Indian Padauk, Dragonsblood Tree Botanical name:     Pterocarpus officinalis Family name:           Leguminosae (Fabaceae) P. officinalis, a 40 meter high evergreen tree,  is the dominant tree in freshwater coastal wetlands in the Caribbean and has an extensive range in tropical Asia.  It survives in some salt water as its cells can block the entry of sodium chloride.  "Paduak" refers to the vibrant colored timber of trees in the genus Pterocarpus.

Common name:     Bog Sage Botanical name:     Salvia uliginosa Family name:          Lamiaceae As its common name suggests, this 6 foot perennial with sky blue flowers on long stems likes to grow in bogs. it spreads aggresively in wet area.  S. uliginosa is a good cut flower. Internet reference

Dania Beach Watergardens donated this beautiful wrought iron gate for the entrance to the Lake Huntington Walk.

Common name:     Giant Taro Botanical name:    Colocasia gigantea Family name:         Araceae From Thailand, this plant rapidly develops colossal leaves. The flowers of Colocasia gigantea are pollinated by a small beetle that is restricted to the forest area. Hence, specimens outside the forest do not produce seeds. Internet reference Internet reference

Common name:    Butterfly Bush  Botanical name:    Clerodendrum  ugandense Family name:          Verbenaceae Located near the Silk Floss Tree is this outstanding Clerodendrum from tropical Africa.  It grows as a sprawling shrub.  The flowers are almost orchid-like with four sky blue petals and a deep blue-purple “lipped” petal.  The stamens curve and project upwards.   These are exceptional flowers best viewed up close.  Tropical Pond and Garden donated this specimen. Internet reference

Common name: Botanical name:    Cecropia species Family name:          Urticaceae (Cecropiaceae)     Native to tropical Central and South America, Cecropia species have large circular, palmate leaves with 7-11 lobes. The trunk has hollow areas where ants live in  symbiosis, providing protection and getting nourisment. Long green fruit is sought after by birds, bats and other wildlife who then disperse the seeds. Internet reference Internet reference

Common name:    Tropical Blue Bamboo Botanical name:     Bambusa chungii Family name:          Poaceae From China, this bamboo has culms covered with a white powder giving them a blue coloration.  it  is a clumping bamboo that grows to 30 feet. Internet reference

Common name:    Distichous Fishtail Palm Botanical name:    Wallichia disticha Family name:         Arecaceae W. distichais an uncommon and easily recognizable palm in cultivation. Its leaves are arranged in two vertical rows alongside the trunk. Numerous narrow fishtail-shaped leaflets are arranged in clusters and spread in several planes. It grows extremely fast once established. Native to northeastern India and Burma.

Internet reference Note: Indian Padauk refers to P. indicus