Coontie - Zamia floridana

Concepts and questions to know S. FL native cycad Can you see the strobili? Is it male or female? Living fossil Produces toxins that affect the nervous system Only the Atala butterfly, its pollinator, can withstand the toxins. Has been used by Seminoles for sauces

Trema micrantha

Concepts and questions to know How are the leaves arranged? Simple or compound? Alternate, opposite or whorled? Are they rough or soft? The wood is used to make matches

Psychotria nervosa (wild coffee)

Concepts and questions to know What kind of leaves does it have? Simple or compound? What kind of leaf arrangement? Can you see the fruit (red) or flower (white)? Its fruit contains caffeine and was once used as a coffee substitute Fruit is eaten by cardinals and blue jays

Bursera simaruba (Gumbo limbo)

Concepts and questions to know It’s bark can cause skin irritation Has been used as an antidote to poisonwood reaction Thought to be able to cure gout Notice the bark of this tree What color is it? What is the benefit of having a bark that color? What texture is it? It is called “tourist tree”, can you think of why?

Ardisia elliptica Shoebutton ardesia Invasive species From Asia Introduced as an ornamental in 1900s reaches about 17 feet in height tolerant to shade black rounded fruit (drupe) eaten by birds and mammals

Coccoloba uvifera (Seagrape)

Concepts and questions to know Evergreen What kind of leaf arrangement does it have? Salt and water tolerant Dioceous Female tree bears fruit Can you tell whether your tree is female or male? Applications Fruit can be eaten or used to make jelly Wood is boiled to make red dye in West Indies Gum from bark is used to treat throat ailments Roots are used to treat dysentery

Coccoloba diversifolia (Pigeon plum)

Concepts and questions to know Salt and wind tolerant Look at the leaves Are they all the same size? How do leaf sizes vary with leaf location on the branch? Is the leaf arrangement simple or compound? Is the leaf structure palmate, pinnate or parallel? The purple fruit is eaten by birds and mammals Can you see any fruit?

Casuarina equisetofolia (Australian pine) Invasive from Australia, Malaysia, South Asia, Oceania Deciduous Monoecious Evergreen wind pollinated Angiosperm needles have toxins Roots can produce nitrogen therefore the can grow in soils poor in nutrients, salt water and mangrove swamps

Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian pepper) DON’T TOUCH IF ALLERGIC TO MANGOES, POISON IVY/OAK We will look at this one together