Calusa Nature Center Field Trip

American Alligator.

American Alligator during a feeding.

 

Tree Smashers Calusa Nature Center Field Trip!

1. Cypress Tree

Cypress trees can commonly be found in the wetlands of the Florida Everglades. . Cypress trees grow best in warm, wet soil with lots of sun exposure. Cypress trees can grow to be about 50 to 70 feet tall. Cypress trees are often used for furniture and shampoo.

A Cypress tree growing onto the Calusa Nature Center boardwalk! Cypress trees are good at adapting to their environment.

 

2. Fern

Ferns are made up of two main parts: the stipe which is the leaf stalk, and the blade which is the leafy expanded portion of the frond (leaf of a fern). Ferns are typically referred to as the weed of the forest. Ferns grow best in moist, shady forests.

3. Alligator Flag/Fire Flags

Alligator flags are named after the alligators that live in them. Alligator flags are large leafs attached to long stalks making them easy to spot in swamps and wetlands. Alligator Flags can grow to be about 8 feet long. It is said that when you are lost in the wilderness to look for alligator flags because that means freshwater is near by. Be sure to watch for the reptiles that hide in them too!

 

4. Melaleuca Tree

The Melaleuca tree is native to Australia. In Australia the Melaleuca tree serves as a great habitat for birds and bats. However, in Florida Melaleuca trees are a nuisance. Malaleuca trees can grow to be about 80 feet tall with white, spongy bark. Malaleuca trees have no use for the Florida Everglades. In fact, Melaleuca trees elimante other vegetation from growing. Malaleuca trees have a great defense mechanism. When the tree feels threatened it disperses a large amount of its seeds. Making it hard to keep the growth of the trees under control.

 

The white, spongy bark of a Melaleuca tree.

5. Royal Palm Tree

The Royal Palm trees can be found in southern states and tropical islands. Royal palm trees are magnificent trees and are commonly used for landscappping.

6. Poison Ivy

Poison ivy can be found growing on the ground, on trees, and intertwined on fences. Poison ivy has three shiny green leaflets on each leaf stem. There  is a hint of red on the stem of the plant. If a person comes in contact with poison ivy it can cause blisters and sever itching. Poison ivy is often mistaken for the Virginia Creeper.

7. Red Maple

The Red maple tree is also commonly referred to as the swamp maple. The red maple grows best in wet moist soils. Red maple trees grow to be 60 to 90 feet tall. The trunk of a red maple tree is long and narrow and is complete with gray, thin bark. Each leave has 3 point lobes which appear to be green in color.

 

8. Sabal Palm

The sabal palm also known as the cabbage palm is the official tree of Florida. It can grow to be about 65 feet tall. It is a fan plam with numerous leaflets. Sabal palms are very good at adapting to their environment. Sabal palms can grow in just about any type of soil. Sabal plams are able to survive during severe droughts and deal with large amounts of water. Sabal palms are used for landscapping and medicines.

9. Saw Palm

The saw palm grows almost like a shrub. Saw plams grow best in sun exposure. The plam grows low to the ground and can grow to be about 20 feet in diameter. The leaves are green and fan shaped. Each palm has very sharp pines that line up along the stem. The leaves are dark green and have a waxy film coating. Although the saw palms are usually green in color some may also appear to be a gray, silver color.

The leaves of a saw palm.

 

10. Slash Pine

Slash pines can typically be found growing in swamps or wetlands. A slash pine can grow anywhere from 80 feet to 115 feet tall.The bark is a brown-orange color. The leaves are long thin needles complete with a cone that serve as great nutrition for squirrels.

11. Virginia Creeper

Virginia creeper can grow on its own or as a vine on trees. The Virginia Creeper has five green leaflets attached to its stem. It typically has a red tint to it. A Virginia Creeper is often confused with poison ivy because the two plants grow along side each other and closely resemble each other.

12. Willow Tree

There are about 400 species of williow trees. Willow trees found in Florida grow best in moist soil. The tree has large roots and long slender branches. The wood of the tree is very tough. The williow tree is a primary source of food for some animals. Humans use willow trees for medicines and manufacturing.

 

Tree Smasher's Thoughts on the Field Trip:

Phillip Hall: I enjoyed the trip and learned alot from it, especially the section about the alligators. I didn't know they could go that long without eating or that they were so inactive the majority of the time.

 

Bailey Smith:The walk was very interesting, the guide was not very informative, the hog was really cool, and so was the alligator feeding and presentation.

 

Jamie Costa: I enjoyed the trip. I learned alot about the plants and trees native to Florida. I thought our guide was informative and well spoken. I didn't know so many animals were going to be at the nature center so I was really impressed with that. I also thought it was very interesting how we got to see an alligator feeding. Overall, it was a great field trip.

 

Nayada Oliveros: The trip to the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium was very interesting and it made me appreciate nature more closely.