Liguus fasciatus pseudopictus
Liguus fasciatus pictus
Liguus fasciatus ornatus
The trees that envelop you as you walk on Gumbo Limbo Trail are mostly tropical species; of the dominant trees, only the live oak (which grows as far north as Virginia) can be considered non-tropical. Under oaks and tropical bustics, poisonwood, mastics, and gumbo-limbos grow small trees such as tetrazygia, rough-leaf velvetseed, and wild coffee, a multitude of mosses and ferns, and only a few species of shade-tolerant flowering plants. Orchids and air plants burst like sun stars from limbs, trunks, and fallen logs. Twining among them all, the woody vines called lianas enhance the jungle atmosphere. Adding a final touch are the royal palms that here and there tower over the hardwood canopy—occasionally reaching 125 feet.
TROPICAL HARDWOOD [HAMMOCK]
PINELAND SOUTH FLORIDA SLASH PINE BUSTIC GUMBO-LIMBO SOLUTION HOLE POND APPLE AIR PLANTS (ORCHIDS, [BROMELIADS]) ROYAL PALM LIVE OAK MASTIC VINES PINELAND SAW-PALMETTO
The [limestone] rock that underlies the entire park is porous and soluble; consequently the floor of the [hammock] is pitted with solution holes dissolved by the acid from decaying vegetation. Soil and [peat] accumulating in the water-filled bottom of one of these holes supports a plant [community] of its own: perhaps a pond apple, surrounded by ferns and mosses (including some varieties that seem to be limited to this pothole [environment]).