EARLY SPRING IN FLORIDA’S UPLAND HARDWOOD HAMMOCKS

Trillium maculatum with Rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)  Marianna, Florida

Trillium maculatum with False Rue-anemone (Enemion biternatum) Marianna, Florida

THE SANGUINE ROOT  VISITS RARE AND ENDANGERED TORREYA TREE AS WELL AS  THE STUNNING BEAUTIES TRILLIUM MACULATUM,  TRILLIUM DECIPIENS AND TRILLIUM UNDERWOODII IN THEIR NATIVE HABITATS.

Isabelle Dijols and Sean Solomon visit the Torreya tree, Torreya State Park, near Bristol Florida in the central panhandle
Isabelle Dijols and Sean Solomon visit the Torreya tree, Torreya State Park, near Bristol Florida in the central panhandle

TORREYA TAXIFOLIA

Along the limestone bluffs on the east banks of the Apalachicola River, the Federally endangered and rare Torreya taxifolia greeted us with a magnificent plaque.

Torreya taxifolia, along the east banks of the Apalachicola River, Florida


Torreya taxifolia, along the east banks of the Apalachicola River, Florida

Torreya Taxifolia, Turreya State Park, near Bristol Florida
Torreya Taxifolia, Turreya State Park, near Bristol Florida

Situated on the high limestone bluffs above the beautiful Apalachicola River, this cultivated specimen welcomes visitors to the park. There was one specimen growing in the wild off in the woods behind the plaque.

The Apalachicola river below the happy visitors of Torreya State Park.  Photo by Mark Daniel
The Apalachicola river below the happy visitors of Torreya State Park. Photo by Mark Daniel

As our native Floridian hosts Mark Daniel and Cathy Smith led us down the steep and winding path of the calcareous  slopes we continued to look for the rare and endangered Torreya tree but were distracted by the many other species we are not used to seeing. Among them, Needle Palm, Southern Magnolia and Oakleaf Hydrangea.

Trillium underwoodii, Torreya State Park Florida. A welcome sight after spending a long snowy winter in Philadelphia Pennsylvania removing noxious invasive Multiflora-Rose from Morris Park
Trillium underwoodii, Torreya State Park Florida. A welcome sight after spending a long snowy winter in Philadelphia Pennsylvania removing noxious invasive Multiflora-Rose from Morris Park

While we were marveling at the spectacle of an actual Trillium before our eyes, Isabelle spotted a piece of trash sitting right next to Trillium underwoodii! This Sessile Trillium is notable for its short stature during flowering. Often its mottled leaves touch the ground at their tips.

Isabelle removes trash from the ground where it sat amidst Trillium underwoodii.  Apalachicola River in backround along with Southern Magnolia
Isabelle removes trash from the ground where it sat amidst Trillium underwoodii. Apalachicola River in backround along with Southern Magnolia

The river’s edge featured grand Sycamore trees, some of them being eroded at the roots by its constant directional flow. The Park is located on the outer edge of a curve where the water rushes against the banks, cutting into the sides and undermining the trees.  On the inner side of the river’s curve, sand and silt is deposited, growing the bank’s size.

A Sycamore tree holds on, growing through its former grand trunk as the Appalachicola River rounds a wide bend on its way into the Gulf Of Mexico
A Sycamore tree holds on, growing through its former grand trunk as the Appalachicola River rounds a wide bend on its way into the Gulf Of Mexico

Our Local tour guide and host Mark Daniel next took us to Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna Florida.  We had no idea what to expect there, however we knew that it was full of limestone bluffs and that it was within the range of at least two Trillium species.  These two factors can be important in the calculation that Trilliums can be found in a target area.  We were right on because within 50 feet of the parking lot we were greeted with a host of spring wildflowers, including three species of Trillium.

Trillium maculatum in full bloom. This flower has a stunning rich maroon color that contrasts nicely with its mottled green leaves.  Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna, Florida
Trillium maculatum in full bloom. This flower has a stunning rich maroon color that contrasts nicely with its mottled green leaves. Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna, Florida

We were pleased to see False Rue anemone (which we initially confused with Rue Anenome), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Mayapple (Podophyllum  peltatum), Blue Phlox, and Columbine.

Trillium maculatum about to bloom. Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna, Florida
Trillium maculatum about to bloom. Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna, Florida

A trio of Trilliums.  This is what we signed up for!

Trillium maculatum on a calcareous bluff, Marianna Florida
Trillium maculatum on a calcareous bluff, Marianna Florida

The low limestone cliffs dropped down suddenly into a broad floodplain.  The limestone was soft and caverns formed below the ground.

Trillium maculatum, Marianna, Florida
Trillium maculatum, Marianna, Florida
Limestone cliffs make a short drop to a broad floodplain with Cypress trees
Limestone cliffs make a short drop to a broad floodplain with Cypress trees

Wanting to find and then actually finding and identifying these Trilliums was made possible by the book Trilliums, by Frederick W. Case Jr. and Roberta B. Case.  This book has opened up the world of Trilliums to us. Our volume comes on site wherever we go looking for Trilliums.

Many, many thanks to Frederick W. Case and Roberta B. Case for enlightening us about Trilliums, and showing us a world we had no idea existed. Here we discover for the first time, Trillium decipiens
Many, many thanks to Frederick W. Case and Roberta B. Case for enlightening us about Trilliums, and showing us a world we had no idea existed. Here we discover for the first time, Trillium decipiens
Trillium decipiens with Bloodroot, (Sanguinaria canadensis), Marianna, Florida
Trillium decipiens with Bloodroot, (Sanguinaria canadensis), Marianna, Florida

We needed to identify the three different species of Trilliums, which is easier with a botanical key on site.

   The on-site key, provided by the book trilliums by Frederick W. Case and Roberta B. Case was helpful in identifying this specimen of Trillium decipiens. Photo by our host Mark Daniel
The on-site key, provided by the book trilliums by Frederick W. Case and Roberta B. Case was helpful in identifying this specimen of Trillium decipiens. Photo by our host Mark Daniel

We found a great local website about the flowers in the area later that night.  It turns out the Caverns State Park was the ticket. We did not have time to visit the caves.  The flowers engaged all of our time and kept us very busy identifying and documenting.  We had heard that Mayapples(Podophyllum peltatum) were rare in Florida, and were at the bottom of their range. It turns out according to this website that they only exist in the Caverns State Park and in the immediate area around it. We never in our wildest imaginations expected to find Mayapples in Florida.

Podophyllum peltatum, Marianna, Florida.
Podophyllum peltatum, Marianna, Florida.

The very bottom of its range.

Podophyllum peltatum with Trillium decipiens. Just growing there as they always have been in the wild.  Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna, Florida
Podophyllum peltatum with Trillium decipiens. Just growing there as they always have been in the wild. Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna, Florida

It cannot get better than this. Also False Rue Anenome, which was everywhere, floating gracefully above the leaf litter.

Podophyllum peltatum preparing to flower. Photo by Mark Daniel
Podophyllum peltatum preparing to flower. Photo by Mark Daniel

Isabelle found this jewel growing out of a large limestone boulder:

Aquilegia canadensis,  Marianna, Florida
Aquilegia canadensis, Marianna, Florida

Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). After spending hours with the flowers. (We wanted to photograph them all really) we climbed down the limestone bluffs to the Cypress Trees.

Isabelle Dijols inspects the Cypress Trees. Marianna, Florida
Isabelle Dijols inspects the Cypress Trees. Marianna, Florida

There has been a serious drought in Florida, as can be seen in this picture.  Cypress trees like wet feet.  There is so much to learn from the day’s adventure. The ecosystems we encountered require so much thought and data to process, so many questions. This is what travel is about: we can compare Mayapples to Mayapples and Beeches to Beeches. Contrast a Cypress wetland to one where Skunk Cabbage grows.   We were just happy to  be out of the snow and cold, and not in the car staring at endless swaths of asphalt. This was one fine magical afternoon in the northern Florida panhandle!

This Post was made possible with the careful tour planning of our keen local guides Mark Daniel and Cathy Smith.  Thank you both for showing the staff of the Sanguine Root a beautiful ecosystem in Florida’s panhandle.

Rue anenome, Marianna, Florida
False Rue anemone, Marianna, Florida

5 Replies to “EARLY SPRING IN FLORIDA’S UPLAND HARDWOOD HAMMOCKS”

  1. I am from marianna and familiar with the caverns plants. The abundant rue anemone you saw is false rue anemone – isopyrum biternatum now known as enemion biternatum, which is a very nice plant. I have heard rue anemone is there but have never seen it there.

    1. Thank you Floyd for the correction! I will check it out and alter my descriptions accordingly. You live in a beautiful part of the world.-Sean

  2. The Trillium maculatum are so beautiful – good to hear you found even more than you expected! Good pictures too!

    1. Hi Maureen,

      We think that the Trillium maculatum is one of the most elegant of the sessile trilliums. We love the way the leaves droop, and the brilliant maroon color of the flower petals.

  3. You folks from “The Root” will always be welcome to visit our corner of the country! It was a pleasure to learn so much from you. There is a whole lot more to see. Maybe next fall, you can drop by to watch the Monarch butterflies departing for Mexico from the shores at St. Mark’s Wildlife Refuge.

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