Welcome to John D. MacArthur Beach State 6. Buttonwood (Conocarpus erecta) On the 13. Blackbead 21. Coin Vine Or Fishpoison (Dalbergia Park! This Park Plants Guide provides a self- landward fringe of the mangrove community, (Pithecellobium keyensis) ecastophyllum) Named because the beans guided walking tour of the park’s native coastal the buttonwood is easily distinguished from The name describes the were thought to be used by Indians to stun flora. Follow the trail highlighted on the mangroves by its gnarled trunk and the shape seeds of this small tree fish, fishpoison shrubs are found on the edge attached map for a botanical exploration of of the fruits in cone-like heads or buttons. which were traditionally of the mangroves and hammock. Ovate three unique park ecosystems – through the used in making jewelry. pointed leaves are large and leathery; fruits maritime hammock, over the estuary 7. Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) Surrounding the seeds are round and flattened, resembling a coin. boardwalk, and down the dune trail. Brown Characterized by thin are bright reddish arils numbered plant markers are gray bark, dark red which make the seeds more visible to wildlife. 22. Jamaica Caper (Capparis located along the trail on walkway wood and prop roots, cyanophallophora) One of the smallest trees in railings and free-standing posts. red mangrove trees filter a hammock with glossy leaves that are folded The plant markers are numbered 1 out salt by reverse 14. Torchwood (Amyris elemifera) A medium when new, produces numerous flowers with through 25 and correspond to the osmosis, only allowing sized tree with thin gray bark and leaves long purple stems and white petals. numbered descriptions in this guide. freshwater to enter their which droop from thin yellow stems in threes, systems. Propagules the torchwood attracts many birds and insects. 23. Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum) 1. Snowberry (Chiococca (seeds that germinate on Belongs to the same family alba) Growing in sunny the tree) grow to almost as poison oak, the sap can locations, the snowberry a foot in length, drop from the tree, float for up 15. Wild Coffee cause severe skin irritation shrub has leathery, oblong to 40 days, and then take root in shallow areas. (Psychotria nervosa) A and should be avoided. The leaves which grow up to 3 relative of commercial compound leaves have 7 to inches, and belongs to the 8. Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) coffee, this small shrub 9 dark green leaflets with same family as wild Identified by black bark and pneumatophores has shiny green leaves light yellow margins and coffee. The yellow flowers (breather roots). The pneumatophores grow and red fruit and is not veins, the reddish brown are followed by profuse upward out of the soil and water to bring air to recommended for bark has black patches. clusters of white berries. the plant. In the sun you can see the salt these human consumption. mangroves excrete through the tops of their 24. Saw Palmetto 2. Redbay (Persea leaves. 16. Paradise Tree (Simarouba glauca) A (Serenoa repens) Known for the distinctive borbonia) Although this tree large canopy tree with compound leaves of trunk which can grow upright or horizontally grows in the coastal Look for mangroves, large gumbo limbos, 10 to 16 leaflets, this plant is dioecious, with along the ground, the stems of each frond hammocks, it is not salt strangler figs, and sea grapes along the trail as male and female flowers on separate trees. are edged with small spines giving them a tolerant. It requires the you continue on the east side of the boardwalk. The fruits found on female trees are very saw-like feel and appearance (hence the protection of other important for wildlife. name). vegetation in order to 9. Pigeon Plum survive. The bark is a (Coccoloba diversifolia) 17. White Indigoberry (Randia aculeata) 25. Wild Lime (Zanthoxylum fagara) A reddish-brown and the Although the fruit is a The spiny shrub has small leaves usually member of the citrus family, wild lime leaflets bright green, oblong leaves favorite of many birds, it is clustered at the ends of the twigs. Fruits are are aromatic when crushed. This is a primary are very aromatic when crushed and can be a not as tasty to humans as white on the outside, indigo on the inside, and food source for the Giant Swallowtail. substitute for the common spice bay leaf. its relative, the sea grape. produced year-round at the base of the leaf Seminole Indians dried the clusters. 3. Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea) Roots growing purplish fruit to enhance its Look Up for Common Spiders from the limbs to the ground distinguish this flavor. 18. Nickerbean massive tree which provides fruit for birds and (Caesalpinia bonduc) A Golden Orb Weaver - mammals. Birds spread the seeds through their 10. Blolly (Guapira discolor) A small tree with vine-like shrub, covered Commonly known as droppings which attach to other trees such as smooth light bark, the leaves are rounded with with curved spines, easily banana spiders due to cabbage palms. The strangler fig will then send a blunt tip. The translucent (permits the passage identified by the shiny their black and yellow down roots overshadowing the host tree and of light) mid-vein of the leaf is important in compound leaves and banded legs, these eventually killing it. identification. prickly, brown seed pods. photogenic creatures are non-venomous to 4. Gumbo Limbo (Bursera simaruba) The red 11. False Mastic (Sideroxylon foetidissimum) A humans. They are peeling bark of the gumbo limbo has given this dominant canopy tree that grows to 80 feet, 19. Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto) usually found during canopy tree the nickname “Tourist Tree.” produces yellow fruit that ripen in winter as an Designated as the Florida state tree in 1953, late summer and fall. animal food source. this palm grows in almost any soil and has 5. Sea Grape (Coccoloba many uses, including food, medicine, and Spiny Orb Weaver – uvifera) In the hammock, sea 12. Rougeberry (Rivina landscaping. Commonly called “crab grape grows as a tall, straight humilis) – This understory spiders,” these small, tree. However, sea grape trees plant produces small red 20. Spanish Stopper (Eugenia foetida) This non-venomous animals can grow in varying conditions berries year round, small tree has opposite leaves that are dark are found from North and adapt to suit their setting. providing food for animals. green above and lighter below. The species Carolina to Florida. Sea grape fruits are eaten by name foetida (fetid) is for the unpleasant birds and animals. scent of the flowers. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is one of the finest examples of subtropical coastal habitat in South Florida. Encompassing 438 Park Plants acres of uplands and submerged land, the Park is a unique mixture of mangroves and coastal plant communities. Several native tropical species that thrive in the Park are Guide rare or endangered, including sea lavender, beach peanut, beach star, and hand fern. ▪ Maritime Hammock All plants, animals, and other resources are protected in Florida’s State Parks. Please ▪ Estuary Boardwalk take nothing but pictures and memories. For your protection and that of your natural ▪ Dune Trail heritage, please stay on designated trails and obey all park signs. Alternate John D. MacArthur format Beach State Park available upon request. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive North Palm Beach, FL 33408 Park Office 561 -624-6950 There’s So Much More To Explore Nature Center 561 -624-6952 Beach Outfitters Gift Shop & Kayak Rentals - 561-776-7449 Ext. 101 www.macarthurbeach.org .