Floristic Inventory of Selected Natural Areas on the University of Florida Campus: Final Report 12 September 2005 Gretchen Ionta, Department of Botany, UF PO Box 118526, 392-1175, [email protected]; Assisted by Walter S. Judd, Department of Botany, UF PO Box 118526, 392-1721 ext. 206, [email protected] 1 Contents 1. Introduction....................................................................................................................3 2. Summary........................................................................................................................4 3. Alphabetical listing (by plant family) of vascular plants documented in the Conservation Areas........................................................................................................7 4. For each conservation area a description of plant communities and dominant vegetation, along with a list of the trees, shrubs, and herbs documented there. Bartram Carr Woods ……................................................................................20 Bivens Rim East Forest ...................................................................................26 Bivens Rim Forest............................................................................................34 Fraternity Wetland............................................................................................38 Graham Woods.................................................................................................43 Harmonic Woods..............................................................................................49 Hogtown Creek Woods.....................................................................................56 Lake Alice Natural Area...................................................................................62 Lake Alice South..............................................................................................70 McCarty Woods................................................................................................73 NATL-east Surge Wetlands...............................................................................77 5. Species of note found in campus natural areas............................................................83 6. Invasive vascular plant species in campus natural areas……………………………87 7. Definitions of terms and categories used in the database............................................95 8. Appendix A – Species spreadsheet by Conservation Area with abundance data 9. Appendix B – Conservation Area Transect Maps 2 Floristic Inventory of Natural Areas on the University of Florida Campus Gretchen Ionta, Department of Botany, UF PO Box 118526, 392-1175, [email protected]; Assisted by Walter S. Judd, Department of Botany, UF PO Box 118526, 392-1721 ext. 206, [email protected] This report summarizes the results of a one year study documenting the diversity of vascular plants in 11 conservation areas on the University of Florida campus. From 15 September 2004 to August 20, 2005 Gretchen Ionta, with the assistance of Dr. Walter S. Judd, conducted a floristic inventory of selected conservation areas on the University of Florida campus using standard field and herbarium methods. This study was funded by Facilities Planning & Construction (FP&C) as part of UF’s Master Plan. This report will provide the foundation for a published floristic inventory in a peer reviewed botanical journal. A copy of any publications resulting from this study will be provided to FP & C. During the course of this study we surveyed the diversity of vascular plant species in the following UF Conservation areas: Bivens Rim Forest Area, Bivens Rim Forest East Area, Fraternity Wetlands, Graham Woods, Harmonic Woods, Hogtown Creek Woods, Lake Alice Natural Area, Lake Alice Natural Area South, McCarty Woods, Health Science Center Park, and the Surge Area Wetlands. Each conservation area was surveyed by walking its perimeter, available trails, and a series of transects which were carefully chosen to make sure that all vegetation types were sampled. This was repeated several times throughout the course of the study, in all seasons. Vascular plant species encountered were identified and recorded along with abundance and location information. Each species was collected at least once during the course of the study (preferably in while flowering or in fruit) and preserved by pressing and drying. The vouchers are properly stored in cabinets in the University of Florida Herbarium, part of the Florida Museum of Natural History. 3 Summary of vascular plant species found in campus natural areas In the eleven conservation areas surveyed we encountered three main plant communities: upland mesic mixed hardwoods hammock, bottomland mixed hardwood forest, and marsh. Mesic upland hammocks (southern mixed hardwoods) are present in Bivens Rim Forest East, Bivens Rim Forest, Fraternity Wetlands, Graham Woods, Harmonic Woods, Health Center Park, Hogtown Creek Wetlands, Lake Alice Natural Area, MCarty Woods, and Surge Wetlands. These mesic upland canopies are characterized by the following species: Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam), Carya glabra (Pignut Hickory), Celtis laevigata (Hackberry), Fraxinus americana (White Ash), Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum), Magnolia grandiflora (Southern magnolia), Ostrya virginiana (Eastern Hophornbeam), Pinus taeda (Loblolly Pine), Quercus hemisphaerica (Upland Laurel Oak), Quercus michauxii (Basket Oak), Quercus virginiana (Live Oak), Sabal palmetto (Cabbage Palm), Tilia americana var caroliniana (Carolina basswood) and Ulmus alata (Winged Elm). Bottomland hardwood forests are present in eight areas: Bivens Rim Forest East, Bivens Rim Forest, Fraternity Wetlands, Graham Woods, Hogtown Creek Wetlands, Lake Alice Natural Area, Lake Alice South and Surge Wetlands. The following tree species are typical of these communities: Acer negundo (Box Elder), Acer rubrum (Red Maple), Celtis laevigata (Sugarberry), Cornus foemina (SwampDogwood), Fraxinus caroliniana (Carolina Ash), Liquidambar styraciflua(Sweetgum), Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora (Swamp Tupelo), Pinus taeda (Loblolly Pine), Quercus laurifolia (Diamond Leaf Oak), Quercus nigra (Water Oak), and Sabal palmetto (Cabbage Palm). Marshes are present in three natural areas: Bivens Rim Forest East, Bivens Rim Forest, Lake Alice Natural Area, and Surge Wetlands. Typical species found in these communities include: Acer negundo (Boxelder), Acer rubrum (Red Maple), Cephalanthus occidentalis (Common Buttonbush), Colocasia esculenta (Wild Taro), Hydrocotyle spp.(Marshpennywort), Lemna spp. (Duckweed), Ludwigia peruviana (Peruvian Primrosewillow), Myrica cerifera (Wax Myrtle), Salix caroliniana (Carolina 4 Willow), Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis (Elderberry), Typha latifolia (Broadleaf Cattail) and Zizaniopsis miliacea (Southern Wild Rice). The following information is summarized in the table below. We found a total of 378 different taxa representing 111 plant families in our inventory of selected UF Conservation Areas. Of these we have identified 338 to species. This represents 1452 taxa documented in the 11 natural areas surveyed, with 1355 identified to species. Seventy percent of the species identified were native. Thirty-two species were listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council as exotic species with the potential to disrupt Florida’s native plant communities. One species documented in this study, Matelea floridana (Florida Milkvine), is endangered in Florida. This plant was documented in Bivens East, Graham woods, Harmonic Woods, Health Center Park, Hogtown Creek and Surge Wetlands. In these areas it was infrequently found scattered throughout the mesic hammocks. Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinalflower) and Athyrium filix-femina subsp. asplenioides (Southern Lady Fern) are listed as threatened in Florida. Cardinalflower occurs in Hogtown Creek natural area near the stream in the northwest corner of the property. Southern Lady Fern was infrequently seen in Fraternity wetlands and Harmonic Woods. Total Non- EPPC(1) & Endangered Threatened Total identified Native %Native native (2) FL Fl Overall 378 338 238 70% native 100 32 1 2 Bivens East 196 179 134 75% native 45 20 1 0 Bivens Rim 66 63 48 76% native 15 5 0 0 Fraternity 112 104 80 77% native 24 10 0 1 Graham 128 123 94 77% native 29 14 1 0 Harmonic 182 169 137 81% native 32 14 1 1 Health Ctr. 142 131 89 68% native 42 16 1 0 Hogtown 139 135 116 86% native 19 8 1 1 Lake Alice 183 164 115 70% native 49 20 0 0 Lake Alice So. 77 70 49 70% native 21 11 0 0 McCarty 98 90 58 64% native 32 11 0 0 Surge 129 127 104 82% native 23 12 0 0 Summary of vascular plant species found in Natural Areas 5 Of the 111 plant families represented in our survey, Asteraceae (Sunflower family) had the largest number of species (31). Fabaceae (Pea family) had 22 species, and Poaceae (Grass family) had 16. The remaining families were represented by between one and ten species each. The best represented genus was Quercus, the Oak genus, with nine species. We documented seven different Smilax (Greenbriar) species. Other genera were represented by from one to five species each. 6 Species documented in campus natural areas Acanthaceae Ruellia caroliniensis - Carolina Wild Petunia Ruellia tweediana - Britton's Wild Petunia; Mexican Bluebell Adoxaceae Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis - American Elder; Elderberry Viburnum nudum - Possumhaw Viburnum obovatum - Walter's Viburnum; Small Leaf Viburnum Viburnum odoratissimum - Sweet Viburnum Viburnum rufidulum - Rusty Blackhaw