Upland Groundcover Plants of Ocalanational Forest

CC11013/25/2012

INCOMPLETE 3/25/12 WORKING DRAFT

Upland Groundcover Plants of OcalaNational Forest

This table is being assembled through a Felburn Foundation grant to Prairie Biotic Research. It includes plants from scrub,

sandhill, oak barren, flatwoods, sandhill pond margin, and roadside habitats. (This project addresses only the vegetation of dry,

open, sandy environments. Species restricted to shady hammocks or wetlands where soils are peaty and/or saturated more than a

couple of months out of a typical year are NOT included.) Future versions of this table will be organized by habitat type and have

current data in all columns for each species and more extensive location/abundance/habitat/history notes. Possible species might be

found on OcNF. Expected species probably occur there. Reported species are recorded/said to be there. Observed species have been

confirmed by a reliable botanist. Vouchered species are represented by Florida herbarium specimens. This work-in-progress draft is

not yet ready to be relied upon or reviewed. Additional information would be much appreciated! Send to . (Submit invasive species locations via .)

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

AgalinisObserved

gerardia

Agalinis divaricataYesPossible

pineland false foxglove

Agalinis fasciculataYesExpected

beach false foxglove

Agalinis filifoliaYesExpected

seminole false foxglove

Linda Conway Duever 1Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Agalinis obtusifoliaYesExpected

tenlobe false foxgove

Agalinis plukenetiiYesPossible

plukenet's false foxglove

Agalinis purpureaYesExpected

purple false foxglove

Agalinis setaceaYesPossible

threadleaf false foxglove

Ageratina jucundaYesReported

white ageratumThe Regional Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability (USFS 1999).

Reported from sandhill and scrubby flatwoods on both ranger districts.

Agrimonia incisaYesG3/S2Reported

incised groove-burThis species typically occurs in sandhills and other fire-maintained dry-mesic open pine woods or mixed pine-oak woods,

where it appears to require occasional disturbance and has been found to be closely associated with old jeep trails. It grew

along roadsides adjacent to sand pine scrub in OcNF (Miller 1993). The Regional Forester has listed this as a sensitive

species because of concerns over population viability (USFS 1999), reporting that it occurred in sandhill and scrubby

flatwoods on both ranger districts. It is unknown whether any survived the period of abusive OHV trail overuse/widening

that peaked in the early 2000s.

Albizia julibrissinNo1Observed

mimosaFast-growing pink-flowered tree planted on inholdings. Invading forest from seed spread via wind and vehicle transport of

papery pods. We have observed isolated trees maturing along roads in remote areas of the forest. Since USFS (2011)

does not make a priority of controlling this "slow spreading" weed, these easy-to-kill outlier trees are likely to be allowed to

multiply into colonies that will cause longterm problems due to persistence in the seedbank.

Linda Conway Duever 2Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Ambrosia artemisiifoliaYesObserved

common ragweedCommon seedweed abundant on repeatedly disturbed areas throughout FL.

Amorpha fruticosaYesObserved

indigo bushReported as rare in xeric habitat on OcNF.

Amphicarpum muhlenbergianumYesObserved

blue maidencaneFlatwoods and pond and prairie margins, expanding into wetland edges during droughts (Clough and Best 1991).

Amsonia ciliataYesPossible

blue dogbaneThis pale-blue-flowered wildflower is common in Panhandle sandhills. Range may extend into OcNF.

Andropogon brachystachyusYesExpected

shortspike bluestem

Andropogon floridanusYesObserved

florida bluestemClassic scrub grass. Lugo and Snedaker reported it to be common throughout the OCNF scrub in 1972. Christman (1988)

listed A. floridanus as a species usually found in interior peninsular scrubs within its range. Grasses are now very sparse on

most OcNF scrub sites.

Andropogon gyransYesObserved

elliot beardgrassFrequent in sandhill, especially in slightly disturbed areas where there is minimal competition from alien pioneer species.

Andropogon virginicusYesObserved

broomsedge

Linda Conway Duever 3Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Andropogon virginicus var. glaucusYesReported

chalky bluestem

AristidaExpected

threeawn

Aristida gyransYesObserved

corkscrew threeawn

Aristida strictaYesObserved

wiregrass

Arnoglossum floridanumYesObserved

sandhill indian plantainFL endemic. The Regional Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability

(USFS 1999). Reported from sandhill and scrubby flatwoods on both ranger districts. David Hall reported as rare in

Morman Branch Scrub.

Asclepias curassavicaNoObserved

scarlet milkweed"Wildflower" observed around plantings on LakeDelancy inholdings.

Asclepias curtissiiYesG3/S3Observed

curtiss' milkweedThe Regional Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability (USFS 1999).

Reported from scrub on the Seminole Ranger District. Florida endemic. FNAI has EORs.

Asclepias humistrataYesObserved

sandhill milkweedOccasional in sandhill.

Linda Conway Duever 4Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Asclepias pedicellataYesReported

savannah milkweedThe Regional Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability (USFS 1999).

Reported from wet-mesic flatwoods on both ranger districts.

Asclepias tomentosaYesPossible

velvetleaf milkweed

Asclepias tuberosaYesObserved

butterflyweedCommon orange-flowered wildflower occasionally encountered on OcNF. Non-native ecotypes may have been planted

on/near forest.

Asclepias verticillataYesReported

whorled milkweed

Asimina obovataYesObserved

flag pawpawConspicuous floppy white flowers call attention to this common scrub shrub. The Regional Forester has listed this as a

sensitive species because of concerns over population viability (USFS 1999).

Asparagus aethiopicusNo1Reported

sprenger's asparagus fernThis bird-dispersed hanging-basket plant has almost certainly been grown on inholdings and/or discarded at dump sites.

This "slow spreading" sleeper weed is likely to be insidiously invasive and create serious control challenges on OcNF in the

future.

Asparagus setaceusNoPossible

common asparagus fernThis wispy "fern" probably persists on inholdings and/or around dump sites. May naturalize in this region.

Baccharis halimifoliaYesObserved

saltbushFrequent along roadsides. This coastal pioneer species appears to have been spreading/increasing inland over recent

decades, both on OcNF and generally across the SE Coastal Plain (Lance 2004).

Linda Conway Duever 5Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Balduina angustifoliaYesObserved

honeycomb headCommon on disturbed sandhills where competition from alien pioneeer species is minimal.

Bejaria racemosaYesReported

tarflower

Berlandiera subacaulisYesObserved

common greeneyesRegionally common yellow-flowered wildlflower occasionally encountered in OcNF sandhills. FL endemic. The Regional

Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability (USFS 1999). Reported from

sandhill and scrubby flatwoods on both ranger districts.

Bidens albaYes?Observed

butterfly needlesOver the 20th Century, this pantropical seedweed spread from a few coastal locations to become common across much of

Florida (Harshberger 1914, Wunderlin 2011). It is not native to OcNF and has been spreading across the forest

explosively in the 21st Century.

Bidens mitisYesObserved

smallfruit tickseed[Does this species grow on the sandy upper zones of sandhill pond margins or is it restricted to wetter lake edges on more

organic soil?]

Bonamia grandifloraYesLTG3/S3Vouchered

florida bonamiaThe northernmost and largest remaining population of this central FL endemic is on OcNF. SaltSpringsIsland is N range

limit. Mature specimens are not uncommon in OcNF scrub, but seed banks have probably been severely reduced by

silviculture and OHV activity (Duever 2010). FNAI has EORs.

Brassica junceaNoObserved

india mustardRoad-shoulder weed with showy yellow flowers in early spring.

Linda Conway Duever 6Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Broussonetia papyriferaNo2Observed

paper mulberryThis fast-growing tree normally invades disturbed hammocks, but Schultz and Herring (2010) reported it from OcNF

scrub. Big leaves that turn a striking golden yellow in fall make it stand out. Paper mulberry infests extensive areas in

western MarionCounty, but may not become as problematic on the forest's sandier soils.

Buchnera americanaYesVouchered

bluehearts

Bulbostylis barbataNoPossible

watergrass

Bulbostylis ciliatifoliaYesObserved

[ ] hairsedgeScrub. More abundant in mature sand pine than on sites subjected to recent silivcultural treatments (Greenberg et al. 1995).

Bulbostylis wareiYesObserved

scrub hairsedgeEasily overlooked grasslike.

Calamintha asheiYesG3/S3Observed

ashe's savoryOccasional in scrub core. [Was/is this the largest population anywhere of this species?] FNAI has EORs. The Regional

Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability (USFS 1999).

Callicarpa americanaYesObserved

beautyberry

Callisia ornataYesReported

scrub roselingFL endemic.

Linda Conway Duever 7Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Cannabis sativaNoExpected

marijuanaIllegally cultivated in many spots within the forest.

Carphephorus corymbosusYesObserved

lavender paintbrushThis showy late summer - early fall wildflower is not common on the forest, but there are occasional sparse colonies in the

sandhills. It is still abundant on similar sites just W of the forest. Has forest management reduced populations?

Carphephorus odoratissimusYesReported

vanillaleafThe leaves of this species are commercially harvested for flavoring tobacco products. USFS issues permits for this on

OcNF.

Carphephorus paniculatusYesExpected

hairy trilisa

Carya floridanaYesObserved

scrub hickoryFL endemic. Occasional in scrub.

Castilleja indivisaNoPossible

scarlet paintbrushMay have been planted in vicinity as a roadside "wildflower". Not likely to persist.

Catharanthus roseusNoExpected

madagascar periwinkleWhite or pink garden flower probably on planted on inholdings. Might escape into limited areas nearby.

Ceanothus americanusYesPossible

new jersey tea

Ceanothus microphyllusYesObserved

redroot tea

Linda Conway Duever 8Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

CenchrusObserved

sandspur

Centaurea cyanusNoPossible

Blue-flowered "wildflower" that may have been planted nearby.

Centella asiaticaYesObserved

coinwort

Centrosema arenicolaYes[ck]G2/S2Reported

sand butterfly peaFL endemic. The Regional Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability

(USFS 1999). USFS (1999) reports that this species occurs in scrub and scrubby flatwoods on both ranger districts.

Ceratiola ericoidesYesObserved

rosemaryFL near-endemic shrub abundant in scrub, especially on prevously disturbed sites.

Chamaecrista fasciculataYesObserved

partridge peaThis yellow wildflower has apparently been extensively planted for wildlife on OcNF. It is native to the forest, but it is

unknown where native ecotype vs. commercial ecotypes of what origins occur.

ChamaesyceObserved

spurge

Chapmannia floridanaYesObserved

aliciaSchoolbus-yellow wildflower. Frequent. FL endemic.

Linda Conway Duever 9Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Chenopodium albumNoObserved

lamb's quartersSeedweed observed only on LakeDelancy inholdings. Brought in from the coast on a boat?

Chenopodium ambrosioidesNoObserved

mexican teaRegionally common seedweed on disturbed areas. Can be highly competitive on ecological restoration sites.

Chionanthus pygmaeusYesLEG3/S3Possible

pygmy fringe treeThis small shrub is typical of central FL scrub, but the northern limit of its range is thought to be S of the forest in Lake

County. Highly unlikely to occur on OcNF, since Christman (1988) did not find it there, but...

Chrysopsis delaneyiYesPossible

delaney's goldenaster

Chrysopsis gossypinaYesPossible

hairy goldenaster

Chrysopsis latisquameaYesExpected

pineland goldenaster

Chrysopsis marianaYesExpected

maryland goldenaster

Chrysopsis scabrellaYesVouchered

roughleaf goldenaster

Chrysopsis subulataYesExpected

scrubland goldenasterFL endemic.

Linda Conway Duever 10Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Cinnamomum camphoraNo1Observed

camphor treeBroadleaf evergreen tree spreading from inholdings via bird-dispersed seed. USFS (2011) reports that it is present on the

forest, but not considered a management priority.

Cirsium horridulumYesObserved

purple thistleCommon along roadsides and around lawn edges.

Clematis baldwiniiYesExpected

pine hyacinthFL endemic.

Clerodendrum indicumNoObserved

skyrocketPersisting around old plantings on LakeDelancy inholdings. Has been known to spread into dry-mesic disturbed places

near old homesites in the Panhandle.

Clitoria fragransYesLT[ck]Reported

pigeonwingThis central FL endemic has been repeatedly reported for OcNF and nearby lands to the S, but not yet confimed by a

taxonomist with special expertise on this genus. We have carefully examined highly variable specimens in degraded oak

barrens on Big Bass and Salt Springs islands [citations]. They are strikingly different from C. mariana and we believe they

represent either a northern extension of C. fragrans or a new species or subspecies.

Clitoria marianaYesObserved

butterfly peaOccasional.

Cnidoscolus stimulosusYesObserved

tread softlyCommon.

Linda Conway Duever 11Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Coelorachis tuberculosaYesG3/S3Observed

piedmont jointgrassThis sandhill pond margin specialist occurred on OcNF prior to OHV decimation of that habitat around 2000. FNAI has

EOR. The Regional Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability (USFS

1999). USFS (1999) regards this species as having low likelihood of persistence on OcNF due to "the few known

populations and the likelihood of these being impacted by such unauthorized disturbances as off-highway vehicles".

Commelina erectaYesObserved

scrub dayflowerCommon.

Conyza bonariensisNoPossible

hairy fleabaneFarmland weed that could occur on inholdings or along roadsides.

Conyza canadensisYesObserved

horseweed

Coreopsis basalisNo?Possible

goldenmane tickseedThis popular roadside "wildflower" has probably been planted on/near OcNF, but it is not native to the forest and may not

actually be native to Florida at all.

Coreopsis leavenworthiiYesExpected

leavenworth's tickseed

Coreopsis tinctoriaNoPossible

This species may have been planted on/near OcNF as a "wildflower".

Cortaderia selloanaNoPossible

This giant landscape grass has been reported to have naturalized in this region, but it is commonly believed that both sexes

are not yet present in FL and this is therefore impossible. It has probably been planted on inholdings.

Linda Conway Duever 12Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Crataegus michauxiiYesReported

scrub hawthorn

Crocosmia X crocosmiifloraNoObserved

montbretiaOnly observed on LakeDelancy inholdings, where it is persisting and slowly spreading vegetatively. This species is not

normally invasive, but we have seen it pop up from squirrel-transported bulbs following a severe fall drought.

Crotalaria spectabilisNoObserved

showy rattlebox

Croton argryanthemusYesObserved

sandhill croton

Ctenium floridanumYesG2/S2Reported

florida toothache grassThe Regional Forester has listed this as a sensitive species because of concerns over population viability (USFS 1999).

USFS (1999) lists this species as occuring in wet-mesic flatwoods on the Lake George Ranger District, but notes that its

presence on the forest has not been confirmed.

Cuphea carthagenensisNoPossible

colombian waxweed

Cynodon dactylonNoObserved

bermudagrassCommon in/around lawns, pastures, and similar areas throughout region. Invades disturbed pinelands and interferes with

restoration.

CyperusObserved

nutsedge

Linda Conway Duever 13Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Cyperus esculentusNoPossible

yellow nutgrass

Cyperus leconteiYesPossible

leconte's flatsedge

Cyperus ovatusYesReported

pinebarren flatsedge

Dactyloctenium aegyptiumNo2Expected

crowfoot grassProbably occurs as a lawn weed on inholdings, but unlikely to spread into native habitats here like it does in coastal areas.

Dalea feayiYesObserved

scrub clover

Dalea pinnataYesObserved

summer farewell

Desmodium paniculatumYesObserved

narrowleaf beggar-tick

Dichanthelium dichotomumYesObserved

cypress witchgrass

Dichondra carolinensisYesObserved

dichondra

Linda Conway Duever 14Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

DigitariaExpected

crabgrass

Diodia teresYesObserved

poorjoePioneer species often abundant along roadsides and on weedy disturbed sites, but seldom noticed in more pristine sandhills

except along OHV trails. [Is it truly native to these habitats in this region?]

Dioscorea bulbiferaNo1Observed

air potatoThis species normally invades more mesic hammocks, but Schultz and Herring (2010) reported it from OcNF scrub.

Although USFS regards eradicating it a high priority on OcNF (USFS 2011), it spreads into xeric uplands relatively

slowly/locally.

Diospyros virginianaYesObserved

persimmon

Dyschoriste humistrataYesVouchered

swamp twinflower

Dyschoriste oblongifoliaYesVouchered

sandhill twinflower

Eclipta prostrataYesReported

eclipta

Elaeagnus pungensNo2Reported

silverthornThis species is invasive further north, but not very likely to spread extensively this far south.

Linda Conway Duever 15Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

EleocharisObserved

spikerush

Eleocharis baldwiniiYesObserved

roadgrass

Eleocharis nigrescensNoPossible

black spikerush

Elephantopus elatusYesPossible

florida elephantsfoot

Eleusine indicaNoExpected

goosegrass

Enterolobium contortisiliquumNoObserved

earpod treeSchultz and Herring (2011) reported from Alexander Springs Wilderness.

Eragrostis amabilisNoPossible

feather lovegrass

Eragrostis atrovirensNoPossible

thalia lovegrass

Eragrostis ciliarisNoPossible

gophertail lovegrass

Linda Conway Duever 16Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Eragrostis cumingiiNoPossible

fortyflower lovegrass

Eranthemum pulchellumNoObserved

false blue sageObserved only persisting from plantings on LakeDelancy inholdings. Can naturalize along central FL roadsides.

Erechtites hieraciifoliusYesObserved

pilewort

Eremochloa ophiuroidesNoObserved

centipedegrassDrought-tolerant lawn grass planted along roadsides and around fire towers, etc. Extremely competitive on dry/sandy

previously disturbed sites. Although USFS considers it a slow-moving invader, it is rapidly choking out rare natives on

many such OcNF sites now.

Erigeron quercifoliusYesObserved

southern fleabaneLawns and roadsides.

Eriogonum longifolium var. YesLTG4T3/SVouchered

gnaphalifoliumFNAI has EORs. Some FNAI records indicate that stand was treated with velpar herbicide, but not whether that was

scrub buckwheatbefore or after observation. PET species (USFS 1999).

Eriogonum tomentosumYesObserved

dog tongue

Eryngium aquaticumYesPossible

corn snakeroot

Linda Conway Duever 17Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Eryngium aromaticumYesExpected

button snakeroot

Eryngium baldwiniiYesExpected

matted button snakeroot

Eryngium prostratumYesPossible

creeping eryngo

Eryngium yuccifoliumYesExpected

rattlesnake master

Erythrina herbaceaYesObserved

coral bean

Eupatorium capillifoliumYesObserved

smelly dog fennel

Eupatorium compositifoliumYesObserved

sticky dog fennel

Eupatorium mikanioidesYesExpected

semaphore eupatoriumFL endemic.

Eustachys distichophyllaNoPossible

weeping fingergrass

Linda Conway Duever 18Conway Conservation, LLC

Scientific NameNative FLEPPC USFWSFNAIPresence

Common Name to FL?

Eustachys petraeaYesExpected

stiffleaf eustachys

Evolvulus sericeusYesVouchered

silver dwarf morningglory

Flaveria linearisYesObserved

narrowleaf yellowtopObserved only around plantings on LakeDelancy inholdings.

Froelichia floridanaYesVouchered

cottonweed

Fuirena brevisetaYesPossible

saltmarsh umbrellasedge

Fuirena scirpoideaYesPossible

rush fuirena

Galactia elliottiiYesObserved

white milkpea

Galactia volubilisYesObserved

twining milk-peaDelicate leguminous vine common in xeric habitats throughout region. The Regional Forester listed a previously recognized