Re-establishing Native Plants on Phosphate Mining Clay Settling Areas.

Additional Resources: Full Plant List
FL Exotic Pest Council
Natives of Polk Co.
Wetland Invasives & Natives
More Invasives
A Current FDEP Model

Wildlife Resources: Birds of Polk County Florida
Snakes of Florida

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The Critical Need to Re-establish Native Plants on Phosphate Mining Clay Settling Pond Areas.

Whether it is using our eucalyptus and cottonwood trees for (A) commercial forestry or (B) as a "bridge crop" to establish native uplands -- stabilizing the forest floor with native plants to control cogongrass is critical.

Remember that at initial development as a tree farm, the site was a prairie of cogongrass (and not much else).

Please Note: Species of plants that are currently very dominant on the Tree Farm are highlighted in Blue.

Harmful Non-Native and Native Plants Currently Present

Common Name: Scientific Name EPPC Category Problem

Cogongrass Imperata cylindrica I Very severe in sunny areas

Tropical Soda Apple Solanum viarum I Spotty

Brazilian Pepper Schinus terebinthifolius I Seedlings prevalent in tree understory.

Caesars's Weed Urena lobata II Very dominant in sun or shade

Chinese Tallow Sapium sebiferum I Spotty

Morning Glory Ipomoea indica Native Severe, kills younger trees.

Climbing aster Aster carolinianus Native Severe, kills younger trees.

Greenbriar Smilax spp. Native Another vine that kills/dwarfs younger trees.

Japanese climbing fern Lygodium japonicum I Becoming more prevalent in tree understory.

Mimosa Tree Albizia julibrissin I Not dominant to cause damage.

Twinleaf Nightshade Solanum diphyllum II Identified by FIPR

Virgin's Bower Vine Clematis catesbyana Native Kills younger trees.

Nutgrass Cyperus rotundus Native Very aggressive causing young tree mortality.

Lantana Lantana camara? I Can be dominant in sunny areas.

Beneficial Natives Currently Present

Common Name: Scientific Name Comments

Creeping Dayflower Commelina diffusa Very first native pioneers dominant in understory.

Southern Shield Fern Thelypteris kunthii Appeared after 2nd year. Now very prevalent in understory

Saltbush Baccharis halimifolia Becoming prevalent in understory

Bluestem Andropogon Present but not common

Shy-leaf Aeschynomena americana Pea family. Present but not common.

Red Maple Acer rubrum Seedlings very prevalent, but not growing to trees

Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Present, but more common in sunny areas.

Elderberry Sambucus canaensis Rare, but in sunny, open, and wet areas.

Pepper Vine Ampelopsis arborea Appears to co-habitat with trees better than other vines.

Spanish Needle Bidens alba Very common, may explain large butterfly population.

American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana Started appearing in 2nd year -- very random.

Initially Dominant Sun Loving Plants Now Disappearing In Shaded Tree Understory

Common Name: Scientific Name Comments

Primrose Willow Ludwigia peruviana Dwarfs growth in young trees, but does not appear to cause mortality.

Wild Bush Bean Macroptilium lathyroides While very dominant, does not appear to cause significant tree mortality

Bahia-grass Paspalum notatum Appears helpful with initial weed control.

Bermuda-rass Cynodon dactylon Appears helpful with initial weed control.

Showy Rattlebox Crotalaria spectabilis Does not appear to harm young trees.

Additional Native Flora Identified by UF Botantists

Common Name:	Scientific Name	Family
Purple Passion Flower	Passiflora incarnata L.	Passifloraceae
Turkey Tangle Fogfruit	Phyla nodiflora L	Verbenaceae
Stiff Marsh Bedstraw	Galium tincorium L	Rubiaceae
Common Yellow Woodsorrel	Oxalis corniculata L.	Oxalidaceae
Yellow bristlegrass	Setaria parviflora	Posceae.
Manyflower marshpennywort	Hydrocotyle umbellata L	Araliceae
American burnweed	Erechtites hieracilfolia L	Araliceae
Laurel/Diamond oak	Quercus laurifloia Michx.	Fagaceae.
Blackberry	Rubus argutus or trivialis.	Rosaceae
Live Oak	Quercus virginiana Mill.	Fagaceae

Additional Species: The Florida Institute of Phosphate Research (FIPR) has also identified the following plants in tree understory: Foxgrape, Figfruit, Smartweed, Pokeweed, Ragweed, Dog Fennel.

Natives Re-introduction Project: Advisors (Cargill, Florida Department of Environmental Protections, and the Natives Nursery) have provided the following list of native plants and grasses that will comprise our "test plots" on and between tree beds:

Lizard's tail, Saururus cernuus

Pennywort, Hydrocotyle sp.

Muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris

Wiregrass, Aristida berhychiana

Chapman's Goldenrod

Beakrush, Rhynchospora sp.

Cord grass, Spartina sp.

Panicum anceps

Panicum longifolium

Eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides

Maidencane Panicum haemotomen

Short-topped goldenrod Euthamia minor

Aster elliotii

Goldenrod Solidago fistulosa

Winged Shumac Rhus copallina

Blackberry Rubus arbutifolia

Andropogon spp.

Wildlife Returning to Site: Prior to the development of our environmentally damaged phosphate mining site (when it was totally dominated by ~6 feet of cogongrass), birds were rarely seen. Perhaps one of the most gratifying accomplishments is seeing how significant levels of bird populations are returning to site.

While we are very much in a learning phase of fully understanding the "whys" of increased wildlife populations-- certain aspects are clear. For example, with tree canopies shading the forest floor, cogongrass is being effectively controlled. This is allowing native Florida plants such as creeping dayflower (a favorite bard source, especially to Ground Doves) to return to the site. We also are observing tremendous numbers of tree frogs in eucalyptus stands.

Birds

Osprey -- Spring, Summer, Fall Resident.

Red Tail Hawk - [pictures]

Red Shouldered Hawk

Common Ground Dove

Redwing Blackbird

Turkey and Black Vultures

Northern Mockingbird -- only along perimeter of farm.

Sandpiper -- Winter Resident.

Ibis

Sandhill Crane

Baltimore Oriole -- Winter Resident.