Page 12, Fall, 1985, PALMEflO Moderate (less than 50'X. of plants affected; damage limited to leaf 1055and small twig kill)
Acrostichum danaeifo/ium, leather Fern Ardisia escallonioides, Marlberry Blechnum serrulatum, Swamp Fern
Calyptranthes pallens, Spicewood Casasiaclusiifo/ia, Seven-year Apple Cassia spp., Cassias by Steve Farnsworth Citharexylum fruticosum, Fiddlewood Cocco/oba diversifo/ia, Pigeon Plum Co/ubrina elliptica, Soldierwood sensitive plants limited to the Keys, The freeze of January 20-22, 1985, Cordia g/obosa was a traumatic event for most of such as lignum vitae, joewood, Dodonea viscosa, Varnish leaf Florida's flora, especially for plants of Florida boxwood, and cinnamon Drypetes lateriflora, Guiana Plum
tropical origin. While our tropical bark were undamaged. Although Erithalis fruticosa, Black Torch native species generally did not suffer typically sensitive plants like geiger Eugenia spp., Stoppers Exothea paniculata, Inkwood
much damage in the remnants of tree, cocoplum, and paradise tree their natural habitats, the same suffered their expected damage, they Guapira longifo/ia, Blolly Hymenocallis spp., Spider lilies species grown outside of their were joined by normally tougher Lantana invo/ucrata, White lantana historic ranges often suffered severe plants like gumbo-limbo, satinleaf, Mastichodendron foetidissimum, Mastic injury. and wild coffee, which usually are Nephro/epsis spp., Sword Ferns Unfortunately, as the urbanization untouched by less severe freezes. Picramnia pentandra, Bitterbush
and drainage of south Florida Shrubs and herbs native to tropical Peperomia spp., Peperomias pineland habitats were generally continues inland, more and more Pseudophoenix sargentii, Cherry Palm tropical natives will be used in areas badly damaged. The ratings are as Psidium longipes, long-stalked Stopper
follows: Pteris longifo/ia, Pine Brake Fern where nature never intended them Sapindus saponaria, Soapberry to be. Li"le or None (less than 10% of plants hurt; The/ypteris spp., Shield Ferns Despite claims that the climate is damage limited to loss of a few leaves) changing in Florida, evidence of this Zanthoxylum coriaceum, Biscayne Prickly-ash Acacia pinetorum, Pineland Acacia
is lacking except for the loss of Severe (more than 500,{,of plants hurt; killed Acoelorrhaphe wrightii, Paurotis back to major branches or down to the temperature moderation formerly Achras emarginata, Wild Dilly
provided by pre-drainage wetlands. ground) Amyris spp., Torchwood
Instead, it appears that freezes tend Anemia adiantifolia, Pine Fern A/varadoa amorphoides, Alvaradoa
Ateramnus lucida, Crabwood Amphitecna latifo/ia, Black Calabash to occur in clusters here. The years
1886-1909saw 14 freezes that killed Bume/ia celastrina, Saffron Plum Annona g/abra, Pond Apple the citrus industry in the Ocala, Canellawinterana, Cinnamon Bark Bourreria aYala, Strongbark Capparisspp., Jamaica,Limber Capers Bursera simaruba, Gumbo-limbo Daytona, and Jacksonville areas and forced its relocation to central Chiococca alba, Snowberry Byrsonima lucida, locustberry Coccothrinax argentata, Silver Palm Calyptranthes zuzygium, Mrytle-of-the-River Florida. This cluster was followed by Crossopetalum rhacoma, Rhacoma Chiococca pinetorum, Pineland Snowberry
only 8 freezes in the period 1910- Dipholis salicifolia, Bustic Chrysoba/anus icaco, Cocoplum
1939. Currently, we are probably in Forestiera segregata, Florida Privet Chrysophy//um o/iviforme, Satinleaf Guaiacum sanctum, Lignum Vitae another freeze cluster that may still Cocco/oba uvifera, Seagrape
have years to go before dissipating, Guettarda elliptica, Everglades Velvetseed Co/ubrina arborescens, Coffee Colubrina Conocarpus erectus, Buttonwood and may force yet another relocation Ilex krugiana, Krug's Holly Cordia sebestena, Geiger Tree of the citrus industry. But it is )acquinia keyensis, Joewood important to determine the cold Krugiodendron ferreum, Black Ironwood Croton linearis, Pineland Croton Ctenitis s/oanei, S. Fla. Tree Fern Lysiloma latisiliqua, Lysiloma hardiness of Florida's native paints, as Ernodea littora/is, Golden Creeper Myrcianthes fragrans, Simpson Stopper well as its citrus trees. Ficus spp., Strangler, Shortleaf Figs One of the positivesto comeout of Myrsine floridana, Myrsine Nectandra coriacea, Lancewood Guettarda scabra, Rough Velvetseed this freeze was a chance to determine
Pithecellobium spp., Blackbead, Catsclaw Hamelia patens, Firebush this hardiness. The plants evaluated Prunus myrtifolia, West Indies Cherry Lantana depressa, Pineland lantana were exposed to eight hours below Randia aculeata, Randia Licaria triandra, licaria 32°F and a minimum temperature of Reynosiaseptentrionalis, Red Ironwood Piscidia piscipu/a, Fishfuddle
Savia bahamensis, Maidenbush Psychotria spp., Wild Coffees 27°F, as measured by a maximum- Schaefferia frutescens, Florida Boxwood Roystonea elata, Fla. Royal Palm minimum thermometer mounted in Simarouba g/auca, Paradise Tree the standard fashion to give accurate Sophora tomentosa, Necklace Pod readings.The plantswere in the open Surianamaritima, BayCedar Tetrazygia bico/or, Tetrazygia Swieteniamahagoni, Mahogany Thrinax radiata, Fla. Thatch Palm in nursery rows and were not
Thrinax morrisii, Keys Thatch Palm Trema spp., Trema
irrigated during freezing tempera- Ximenia americana, Tallowwood Scaevo/a plumieri, Inkberry
Zanthoxylum flavum, Yellowheart tures. Evaluations were supplement- Zanthoxylum fagara,Wild Lime ed by additional observations in a 12- year-old native planting in a nearby park, and in another nursery where 26°F was the minimum temperature and freezing temperatures were of longer duration. Many surprisingfacts came to light in this freeze. Supposedly cold-