WHAT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT IS BLOOMING TODAY?: HAIRY CHAFFHEAD (Carphephorus paniculatus)
Also known as DEERTONGUE.
Bud depicted. Eye-catching, tall (3ft). Attractive to butterflies and and other pollinators.
Learn: http://www.fnps.org/plants/plant/carphephorus-paniculatus
http://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Carppani
Where does it grow in Florida? http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3093
Bloom from Nov 2010
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WHAT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT IS BLOOMING TODAY™?: BUSHY BLUESTEM (Andropogon sp. likely glomeratus)
Very tall, showy native bunch grass. Leave in place to dry over the winter as food for flocks of birds. The warblers will latch on and sway as they dine. Provides cover for wildlife.
Several varieties of this species are native to Florida. This one is most likely A. glomeratus var. pumilus
I cut some to use as a free alternative to cornstalks as Halloween decorations,
Larval Host: Possible larval host plant for Delaware skipper (Anatrytone logan), Georgia satyr (Neonympha areolata), neamathla skipper (Nastra neamathla), swarthy skipper (Nastra lherminier) and twin-spot skipper (Oligoria maculata) butterflies (source: http://www.fnps.org/plants/plant/andropogon-glomeratus)
Learn: http://floridagrasses.org/Grass_data/An_glomeratus.html
Native American Ethnobotany for this genus: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Andropogon+glomeratus
Where does it grow in Florida? http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3364
Seeds available: http://www.floridawildflowers.com/products/Andrapogon-glomeratus-%252d-Bushy-Bluestem.html
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WHAT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT IS BLOOMING TODAY?: CHALKY BLUESTEM (Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus)
Native bunch grass. Interesting to watch the birds sway on the tall stems while dining on the seeds in late autumn and winter.
Seeds feed: song birds
Learn: http://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Andrvirgglau
Larval host: Possible for Delaware skipper (Anatrytone logan), Georgia satyr (Neonympha areolata), neamathla skipper (Nastra neamathla), swarthy skipper (Nastra lherminier) and twin-spot skipper (Oligoria maculata) butterflies.
Native American Ethnobotany for this genus: http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Andropogon+virginicus
Where does it grow in Florida? http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=2414
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WHAT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT IS BLOOMING TODAY?: SHYLEAF (Aeschynomene americana)
a.k.a. Jointvetch
Aggressive but delicate member of the pea family. Can reach heights of 4 ft. “annual grazing crop
that can be cut for hay before maturity.”
Prolific seeds feed: quail, dove and turkey; attracts pollinators, grazed by deer.
Learn: http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_aeam.pdf
Larval host: Barred Yellow Butterfly (Eurema daira);’ Pale-edged Selenisa Moth (Selenisa sueroides)
Where does it grow in Florida? http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=2805
My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2019/10/04/in-a-wildlife-garden-it-isnt-shy-at-all/
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WHAT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT IS BLOOMING TODAY?: BULLTONGUE ARROWHEAD (Sagittaria lancifolia)
Also called Duck Potato or Lance-leaved arrowhead. Emergent plant, perfect for water garden/pond.
“It was used traditionally by the Seminoles for treating shock following alligator bites” (source: http://web.fscj.edu/David.Byres/duckpot/duckpot2.htm)
Birds/Mammals eat the fruit, attracts pollinators.
Learn: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/388
Where does it grow in Florida? http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=2817
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What Florida Native Plant Is Blooming Today?™ 