Bauhinia and Hibiscus: A Comparison of Floral Reproduction

This posting is a response to the numerous hits made on a previous posting featuring the Non invasive Bauhinia tree. It seems that the interest lies in its reproductive nature. The purpose of this post is to improve the understanding of plant biology through comparative anatomy.

The title image shows the Bauhinia (blakeana ) on the left and the Florida native scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus) on the right. I photographed the Bauhinia in the roadway median of our neighborhood. I photographed and display the scarlet rosemallow because it is such a stunning finding in the fresh water marshes of the Corkscrew Nature Preserve in SW Florida. It also shows that it is not a cultivar but it can self propagate without human intervention. Both plants are eye candy that must be appreciated in their out-of-door surroundings. In our community we have domesticated tropical hibiscus which are close relatives to the wild scarlet hibiscus

These two blossoming plants attract loads of attention. The Hong Kong orchid (Bauhinia blakeana ) and the cultivated tropical Hibiscus (Malvaceae) produce wonderful, flamboyant, visually attractive flowers. They are planted throughout our community. Additionally, these blooms have great staying power lasting for many months. Their flowering period stretches anywhere from eight to ten months, from September to June. They have, however, remarkably different reproductive powers. To reveal the secret of these two plants this posting compares the gross and micro anatomy of their two flowers.

A detailed diagram of a Bauhinia flower labeled with its anatomical parts, including bud, petal, sepal, stamen, pistil, ovary, style, and stigma, showcasing the flower's structure. — Bauhinia blossom with some pettals removed

Diagram labeling parts of a hibiscus flower including the stamen, ovary, style, stigma, petal, and sepal, accompanied by lush green leaves and a bud. — Hibiscus blossom with no petals removed

Gross and micro dissection reveals the major difference in the reproductive capacity of the these two perfect flowers. Dissection and microscopic examination of the ovaries shows that the hibiscus has ovaries while the bauhinia has no trace of ovules. It is unable to sexually reproduce.

Diagram illustrating the anatomy of a Bauhinia flower, highlighting its various parts including petal, sepal, stamen, anther, filament, ovary, style, stigma, and pistil. The text indicates that the flower is perfect but sterile, with no ovules or seeds. — This is a full dissection of the *Bauhinia × blakeana* blossom. Look at the top left images. You can see that under microscopic examination there are no ovaries within the ovary. This plant is infertile.

Anatomy diagram of a hibiscus flower, illustrating the components like the ovary, stigma, stamen, and petals, labeled with descriptions to explain its reproductive functions. — This is a full dissection of the Hibiscus blossom. Look at the top left images. You can see that under microscopic examination there are ovules within the ovary. This plant can produce seeds. It is fertile.

The five-petaled blossoms of Bauhinia plants are known as “perfect flowers,” because each individual bloom contains both female and male parts. Some varieties of the Bauhinia flower, such as the widely cultivated Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia × blakeana), are known to be sterile. Bauhinia are monoecious, which means “single house”. This designation describes the dual sexual capacity in a single flower. The flowers can self pollinate or fertilize with pollen from another plant. The flowers attract pollinators such as hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and more. Bauhinia × blakeana‘s sterility is due to its hybridization. Bauhinia blakeana is the result of conjugation of the very similar species Bauhinia purpurea ( Purple Camel’s Foot) and Bauhinia variegata ( Camel’s Foot Tree). Both of these are exotic species according to the Hong Kong Herbarium. The parent plants have partially overlapping flowering periods and geographical habitats, and the same range of bee and butterfly species as pollinators. Interbreeding Bauhinia purpurea and Bauhinia variegata is probable. The resulting triploidy of this plant has probably rendered this varietal sterile. The plants you see today are clones of the same flowers seen by Hongkongers more than a century ago. They are propagated asexually through cultivation of stem cuttings.

The Hibiscus is also considered a perfect flower which actually produces viable seeds. The hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants known for their large, showy flowers, belonging to the mallow family (Malvaceae). Fertilization of these plants is complex. Pollination may fail because of these five prerogatives.

Self-Pollination: Some hibiscus varieties are self-pollinating. This can make it difficult to cross-pollinate them.
Timing: Hibiscus flowers are only receptive to pollen for a short period, usually just a few hours.
Pollen Viability: Hibiscus pollen can lose its viability quickly.
Stigma Receptivity: The stigma needs to be receptive to pollen. The stigma, gateway to the ovarian, might not be receptive at the same time the pollen is viable.
Germination: Seeds take 12 to 24 months to bloom.

The hundreds of species of hibiscus are generated through human intervention of the pollination. Tropical hibiscus are propagated sexually from seeds or asexually from stem cuttings or plant division. In carefully controlled environments and with delicate, patient effort botinists have hybridized the tropical hibiscus to make hundreds of beautiful new varieties. The new plant varieties are propagated from cuttings or division to produced plants which are clones of their parents.

Illustration explaining hormonal fertility signals in plants during pollination, detailing four key hormones involved in the process. — In addition to timing, these four hormonal obstacles must be passed in the carpel for signaling a specific selection of pollen appropriate for germination of ovules in these species.

DISCUSSION of FINDINGS:

This is not a thorough scientific data collection. Three samples of blossoms from each of two trees were collected for a total sample size of six. All of the samples were made on the same day in April, 2020. There were no major local meteorological events for the year preceding this observation. There were no observations of the viability of the observed polled during this observation. Further study should be done to give this a high level of confidence of the conclusions.

SUMMARY:

In Florida the Bauhinia × blakeana and Hibiscus plants thrive and are found in almost all of the cultivated communities and household gardens. They are well tolerated but stable non-native species. Because of their reproductive limitations they are not invasive. We can feast our eyes on this banquet of form and color without fear of damaging the environment.

REFERENCE LINKS:

FEEDBACK:

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#Bauhinia #Hibiscus #reproduction #flowers #invasives #anatomy #seeds #sterile #

June 21, 2025

Japanese Garden Types – Part 3 – Woodlands

The native woodlands are foundational for all other Japanese gardens. They have been revered for thousands of years as part of Shinto. They are geologically, ecologically, historically, culturally and economically important. The previous posts in this series have reviewed the cultural insights and history of the Japanese gardens. This is part three of a six part series on Japanese gardens. The purpose of this presentation is to focus on the value and management of the forests. Can these be applied to care of woodlands in Florida and the East Coast of the USA?

There are three garden types in Japan that include woodlands, food production gardens, and the classic traditional gardens. Here is a brief overview of the forests in the wilderness of Japan.

The feature image is typical of the countryside viewed from the cable car on the way to Mt. Fuji. It is mountainous and covered with a forest of predominantly gymnosperm trees.

The history of Japan has significantly altered the natural woodlands of Honshu. The wilderness is not as natural as expected. 75% of Japan is densely forested. Forty percent’ was planted by people. There is a deep and protracted use of the woodlands for lumbering. The giant shrines with statues of the Buddha are made of cedar and cypress harvested from the wilderness. Historically all of the major buildings and residences were built from local wood. Until the twentieth century no other materials were used.

No understory at altitude at 1/2 (4500 ft) of Mt Fuji

Deforestation Events

The forests were depleted of wood from three major events. There were two major event periods of construction which consumed whole mountains of wood. The first was during the castle shogun period the 1700’s. These included many square miles of defensive castles and associated residences for soldiers, civilians and commerce. Simultaneously, the residences and temples of the Buddhists were constructed. The second period was during the Edo and the Mejie eras. Edo construction focused on the new capital now called Tokyo. The third and period was the combination of the 1850’s through 1950. The forests were severely depleted as never before. This third period included deforestation for construction and devastation as a result of war.

Deforestation has an impact on the geology and ecology. Without the tree roots to hold the soil, earthquakes, floods, land slides with mud and rocks ensued. To restrain the soil trees were aggressively replanted with cedar and cypress with very little diversity. In 1954 The public was incentivized to plant even more. That incentive indirectly increased further deforestation of diverse native tree angiosperm hardwood species like the maple.

This had a further modern impact of construction lumber. Its value depends on good management of the trees. To grow straight, tall and knot free, the limbs need to be trimmed. To allow sufficient light and access to the trees the forest needs thinning. To be accessible to harvest, the slopes of the hills must be within the capacity of the power equipment. This is demanding work requiring a skilled and able labor force. The population of Japan is aging. The wage rate compared to other countries is relatively high There are insufficient foresters to develop an industrial timber crop. As a result of this, the trees are of questionable value. The monocultural nature of the crop also makes the forest susceptible to pests and diseases. The understory is sparse and not diverse. The wildlife is severely limited. To compete with imported lumber the method of management needs to be rethought.

2024. Tokyo completely rebuilt in concrete

Spiritual Value of Old Trees as Seen in Art

Shinto regard of trees and forests is foundational. Recall that there has been a long veneration of trees which we described in the last posting. This value dates back thousands of years. They are assigned individual and group value as Kami spirits.

In Japan, old trees are venerated for their resilience, strength and power. Allegorically, they offer a bridge to the past. Both of these concepts are essential to the concept of Shinto. Blossoming trees are also highly regarded. Most notably are the spring blooms of the weeping cherry and plum trees. Autumnal trees with seasonal chromatic change in the leaves offer even more inspiration for artists.

Kano Masanobu, ~1550, This exquisite screen, ink on foiled paper is in the Tokyo National Museum

Buildings for the Community Revering Forested Trees

The size of the remaining wooden buildings speak volumes about the mass of lumber needed for the temples, castles and residences of ancient Japan. The Great Buddha Hall of Tōdai-ji in Nara Japan is the world’s largest wooden building. It houses the largest cast bronze seated Buddha statue. It is only one of the few remaining giant Buddha halls. These images of notable wood structures do not truly capture their great size. Maintenance of these halls, palaces and castles is constant, expensive, and requires expert craftsmen and are paid for by donations. The remaining buildings are a small fraction of all of the original buildings that once existed.

Great Buddha Hall of Tōdai-ji in Nara. This reconstruction is only two thirds of the original building.

Private Wooden Buildings

The Gion district in Kyoto and the Yasaka-no To Pagoda has a high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses. This area was established 1300 years ago. Many of these wooden buildings date back to the Meiji period more than 150 years ago. Most of the original buildings were destroyed in the fire of 1865. In Kyoto those which were rebuilt were not destroyed in WW II. There were wooden structures like these in Tokyo. They were the norm and as you would expect, during WW II most of them burned. Only a few pockets of these remain. They were replaced with modern buildings made of steel reinforced concrete and glass.

Tokyo. Wood is protected from deterioration caused by dog urination. The curved barriers can be seen on the face of the structure

Kyoto. No barriers results in discoloration and acidic damage to the structure.

WW II post war reconstruction period and current state of woodlands

Trees by the numbers

Look at this hillside. At the lower level, below the green line, you can see the density of the tree trunks. There is no place for understory growth. This suggests over planting without selective tree pruning or thinning as is necessary for a healthy tree growth pattern.

The foliage distribution strongly overlaps the mountainous areas which we described in the first of this series on Japan. To better appreciate the distribution of trees in Japan, the following illustrations will show the varieties and locations in the island group. This underscores the limited accessibility to manage the growth or to commercially harvest the wood.

The distribution of trees is approximately 40% deciduous and 60% coniferous and evergreen.

This graphic is from “Forest and Forestry of Japan Textbook to Learn about Forests” . The Japan Forestry Association, “Forest zone of Japan”. Note our visited area is characterized as warmer temperature vegetation.

For more information on plants seen on this trip, please visit the Everglades Ark Epicollect database. to see more native trees and plants in seen on this visit. See observations numbers 422 to 434.

Reforestation:

There is a strong response to the tree management in today’s Japan. The forests of Japan rank third in the world for percentage of forest covered land. Modern management techniques including diversification of species are being applied and the use of local lumber is increasing.

Japan is now making a concerted effort to reforest and rewild their woodlands. Although this is a public works project and is government sponsored/funded it depends on community part time and volunteer workforce. It includes incremental reforestation using a variant of the Montreal process. This successful process has been widely applied in many locations around the world. The dedication and discipline of the people of Japan have made this do-it-yourself (DIY) project an example that could be followed here in Florida.

CONCLUSION

Forests continue to play an important part in Japan both spiritually and economically. Hopefully we can learn that over deforestation and questionable management can result in unintended consequences. The reversal of the untoward results can be costly, labor intensive and time consuming.

Next

In our next posting we will explore the productive gardens as farms in Japan. Later we will see the classic formal gardens

HERE ARE SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR the discussion board

Where does the art of bonsai fit into Japanese culture?

How would you manage the woodlands of Japan?

What can we learn from the Japanese woodland management experiences?

How can we use the Florida Master Naturalist program to encourage woodlands management in our own neighborhoods?

If you have visited or live in Japan please add to this description.

Is Japan competitive with the world in lumber production?

Reference texts:

•Japan, DK Eyewitness, Penguin House, Dorling Kindersley, 2000

•The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Benedict R., Houghton Mifflin, 1946, 1957, 1967. 2005

•Judgement at Tokyo, Bass G.J., Alfred Knoff, 2023

•Zen Gardens, Masuno S., Tuttle Publishing, 2012

•Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

•Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

Please post your comments in the space provided below.

If you wish to be notified of future postings please enter your email address and click on Subscribe.

#gardens #Japan #Shinto #samurai #Buddhism #Shogun # culture #imperialism #history #philosophy #art #trees #

December 8, 2024

The Evolution of Japanese Gardens: Exploring Dramatic Cultural Influences – Part 2

The cultural changes of Japan are fascinating and profound. Journey with me and see how they have significantly influenced gardening on Honshu and all art in Japan. This posting is a generalized recapitulation of the history. It will help you follow the cultural forces as they change through time. Powerful characters in that history built these gardens and structures. We will look for the demonstration of these influences by interpreting the evolving style and content of their gardens.

The featured image is a shinto shrine. Be sure to see the earlier posting, Cultural Insights from Japan’s Stunning Garden Landscapes.

Types of gardens:

We will look at three types of gardens which were made and modified over the last thousand years. I have selected Japanese history to follow the gardens. All of the gardens were made with special intention. In Japan there are three identifiable types of gardens; wilderness, production and formal (classical). These will be individually discussed in the posts to follow.

Early Development:

Shinto:

Shinto is an ancient veneration based faith. It is native to Japan. It may have originated ~300 BCE. It is not a true religion. It attributes veneration to spiritual Kami; avatars of people, objects and forces in natural settings. The Shinto shrine is simple and rustic. It has specific elements and design style emphasizing nature. This is the earliest referenced form of Japanese gardens. The natural elements and symbolic representations in design are in nearly all subsequent classical Japanese gardens.

Buddhism:

Buddhism is a philosophic, faith based life style. It originated in India and came to Japan ~400 AD. It emphasizes simplicity, restrained behavior, self awakening, and reincarnation using meditation. There are many forms of Buddhism. Zen Buddhism is a Samurai adaptation of one of the extant Buddhist sects. It is more severe in imaging and its gardens are characterized by the use of stones, gravel and sand. The arrangement is designed for stationary meditation not for walking. This form of faith acknowledges the concept of limitations. The gardens encourage transcendence of the limitations of the objects.

Entrance gate to Buddhist monastery / garden

IMPERIALISM:

Walking path in a large and complex Kyoto Imperial garden. It includes Shinto elements of water, bridge, trees and shrubs, lanterns and other Kami references.

The emperors of Japan have a long and troubled history. They date back to 1000 BC well before written history. Imperial power has risen and fallen at lease three times in recorded history. In the last period, Imperial power did not return until after the second visit of Commodore Matthew Perry. He was sent by the US president to force the trade. Japanese nationalists precipitated the overthrow of the Shogun and reestablish the power position of the Emperor.

Samurai: CODE

Samurai warriors had a moral code of ethics and behavior. Their training started in childhood. It focused not only in strength but also intelligence. When they were not fighting or training their combat skills they practiced self reflection, studied philosophy, literature, and the arts. They showed discipline, frugality, kindness, honesty, personal duty & honor, athletics, military skills, military strategies and political savvy. Ultimately they were trained to be fearless in battle. They were rewarded with currency, land and promotion.

The samurai developed a complex hierarchal order. The shogun was the highest rank of military commander. The feudal land lords were called daimyo. The shogun and his samurai provided military protection to the emperor and the daimyo. Through aggressive civil warfare attrition, one Shogun eventually dominated. This resulted in the end of civil strife, a unified Japan and peace which lasted for 200 years. In total, samurai directed an inalienable influence for 600 years.

The White Castle built buy the samurai Shogun

Politics and civil war:

Two Samurai armies fighting for opposing Shogun who seek domination of territory and power. (Source Anonymous)

The four current and historic Japanese capital cities are on Honshu. Each has a palace with gardens built for an emperor. These palatial gardens were made for the royal entourage for pleasurable encounters. They were used for meetings, entertainment, and celebrations for those with imperial access. In private, the emperor entertained his friends and families, concubines and eunuchs and his other supporters. They were used for and socialization, fun, intrigues, scheming, and planning. They had outer buildings and walkways. There were surrounding walls and moats with defensive designs. A class of defensive warriors was encouraged to defend the high culture class. These men called samurai were dedicated and highly trained. They were better than the ancient Greek Spartans .

Mid development:

The Shoguns were highly successful leaders of the Samurai warrior class. Regional Shoguns built castles with associated buildings as well as gardens. These were strategically placed for conflict management and defense. Daimyo and Samurai also built traditional gardens because they had land and power to pay and support them. These private gardens were used as retreats for meditation and rest.

Late Development:

During this period political pressure reduced support for some and increased support for other gardens. During the 1600-1850 (Eco) period Buddhism was controlled by the shogun. During the 1886 -1912 (Meiji) period the government forced a separation of Shinto from Buddhism. Buddhism was persecuted because it was considered a foreign influence. State money was no longer directed to the massive and expansive Buddhist monasteries and gardens. They deteriorated in structure and appearance. Shinto increased in importance and along with Confucian thoughts were strongly supported by the State. This accomplished four valued behaviors. It reduced the power of a passive Buddhist ideology. It reinforced commitment to Japanese nationalism. It forced discipline, militarism and ethnic superiority. This also supported naturalistic idealism and devotion to the Emperor, the State and ancestral heritage. The samurai were outlawed. The military continued the defensive and offensive duties and many of the ethics of the samurai. The leadership pursued fanatic militarism and ultra-nationalism. To capitalize on the gains of WW I and to compete with the western powers, in 1931 all resources of Japan were committed to expansion through “total war”.

Continuing Development:

The sequela of the bombing of Japan during World War II, particularly in cities like Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki was devastation. The death toll was enormous. Among cultural artifacts, traditional Japanese gardens were too, heavily damaged or completely destroyed as a result of the conflict. There is insufficient data for a true count. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of national treasured gardens were lost.

Through military force, the USA substantially altered the Japanese culture early by gunboat and later by atomic bomb diplomacy. The first time was opened the borders to international trade and introduction of advanced technology. The second opportunity opened Japan to multilateral, international, equilateral negotiation and trade without warfare.

This leveling of the field has allowed the Japanese people to cooperate with other nations and peoples. They assimilated and develop new ideas without loosing their identity. They now share their culture with others. The Namba Park is an excellent example of post-modern architecture and garden blended into the urban center of Osaka.

Conclusion

Many factors influenced the Japanese gardens: The Shinto veneration set the basics of the Japanese garden. Once established, the Samurai character and Shinto/Buddhist beliefs pervaded through the culture. My interpretation of the gardens emotes a display of discipline, unwavering moral values, intelligence, honor, and duty. The people of Japan have demonstrated continued adaptablity. The gardens of tomorrow will reflect the constants and the changes.

Period, era and influence and characteristics summarizing the progress of Japanese gardens

Topics for your discussion on the discussion board

Have we answered the question posed in the previous posting? “Can some value in Japanese ethnographic field work be extracted from study of the iconography of Japanese gardens ?” How do you see the evolving relationship of Shinto, Buddhist and Samurai behavior? Please show and interpret examples of your local gardens that reflect the thinking, philosophies or values of your community.

If you have expert knowledge in Japanese gardens please share your thoughts or images in the discussion board. This will help us all learn more.

If you want to enter into a dialogue please use the discussion board and engage in group participation.

NEXT

In our next posting we will explore the three forms of gardens in Japan.

If you wish to express your ideas please use the comment box below.

If you wish to be notified of future postings please enter your email address and click on Subscribe.

Recommendations for film lovers:

Yojimbo by the award winning director Akira Kurosawa

Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan, A period docudrama currently on Netflix directed by Stephen Scott,

Last Samurai Standing a docudrama currently on Netflix staring Tom Cruise, directed by Michihito Fujii

The Last Samurai, A period docudrama on Netflix directed by Edward Zwick,

Reference texts:

•Japan, DK Eyewitness, Penguin House, Dorling Kindersley, 2000

•The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Benedict R., Houghton Mifflin, 1946, 1957, 1967. 2005

•Judgement at Tokyo, Bass G.J., Alfred Knoff, 2023

•Zen Gardens, Masuno S., Tuttle Publishing, 2012

•Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

•Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

#gardens #Japan #Shinto #samurai #Buddism #Shogun # culture #imperialism #history #philosophy #art

November 15, 2024

Cultural Insights from Japan’s Stunning Garden Landscapes. Part I

INTRODUCTION:

This is the first of a series of postings on gardens in Japan. It is the result of a three-week, September visit in the central area of the island of Honshu, Japan. It focused in the area between Kyoto and Tokyo (Fig 1). This is called the Golden Route. These are my interpretations of observations of this on-site visit supplemented by a review of some of the relevant literature. The gardens are a small sample of complex art forms generated by the Japanese over the past 1000 years. It involves a combination of art, history, philosophy, politics, wealth, power struggles, and a dynamically adaptive way of life. Approximately 15 sites were visited in and around the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Matsumoto, Nara and Tokyo. From my American and European experiences I found their visual impact emotively stunning. Much of the area seen reminded me of my home in Florida. It was so familiar but so foreign. This led me to ponder the contrasts and parallels of these eastern and western cultures. I was full of questions. I wanted to know what do the Japanese want us to think when we see their gardens ? What do the gardens tell us? What can we learn from the gardens?

There are many important factors that influence the gardens that include geology, geography, ecology, philosophy, and history. Surprisingly, there are similarities and parallels between Japan and America. Follow along with the Everglades Ark for a fascinating exploration.

Geology:

Japan is series of islands that act as a geologic barrier to the pressures of the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the “ring of fire” generated by four massive tectonic plates. Seventy five percent of the islands are mountainous that include volcanoes. It is subjected to the severest forces of nature including, earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, tropical storms, and lava eruptions. See Fig 1.

Fig 2. Japanese islands overlying US eastern seaboard

Geography:

The three larger islands of Japan lie, latitudinally, in a position similar to the eastern seaboard of the United States. If overlaped on the USA, they could cover an area extending from Main to Florida and from the Appalachian mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. The Pacific typhoons are like the Atlantic hurricanes on the coast of North America. They are generated by the warm air and water energy in the western Pacific Ocean. They follow the Kuroshio current that runs northerly along Japan’s eastern coast. This is equivalent to the African Easterly Jet and the Gulf Streams. The water and air streams move northerly along both east coasts east coast.

The weathering of the mountains of both areas have similar erosive effects. Tropical storms slam into the mountains causing erosion of the weathered rocks which is washed downward to the sea. Gravel, sand, and mud flow down their eastern slopes to cover the bedrock topography of the east coasts. This action creates broad deep coastal planes of fertile sedimentary soils ideal for plant growth to flourish. In Japan there is an additional source of nutrients to enrich soil. These are the volcanic effluents which additionally characterize the mineralogy of the land. See Fig 2.

Fig 3. Earth’s most densely populated city seen from the Tokyo tower looks the same in all directions.

Population:

The population of 122 million in Japan is nearly equal to the east coast of the US. The most populous portion of these islands lies in an area similar to the US Carolinas . The Tokyo central part of the city (Fig 3) has 15 million where the population density is 6,363/km² (16,480/sq mi). The metropolitan area has 41 million where the density is 3,000/km² (7,900/sq mi). The buildings are generally less than 60 years old because of the effects of American bombing in WW II. The construction materials are mostly steel reinforced concrete and glass; not wood. This image begs the question; Where are the gardens? This series of postings shows how I tried to attain understanding.

WHAT IS NEXT:

In postings still to follow, we will discuss interactions of all these factors and the probable anthropologic significance of Japanese gardens. Additionally, we will confront a question. Can some part of Japanese ethnographic field work be extracted from study of the iconography of Japanese gardens ?

SUMMARY:

The soil, water and weather are fundamental to the materials and design of Japanese gardens. The area visited was subtropical. During the three weeks of the trip, the midday temperature averaged 95⁰F and the humidity was nearly 90%. The daytime sky was mostly cloudless. In the month of travel, the island experienced two typhoons. It was just like home in Florida! But it wasn’t.

If you wish to express your ideas please use the comment area below.

If you want to enter into a dialogue please use the discussion board and follow the group participation.

If you wish to be notified of future postings please enter your email and click on Subscribe.

References:

•Japan, DK Eyewitness, Penguin House, Dorling Kindersley, 2000

•The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Benedict R., Houghton Mifflin, 1946, 1957, 1967. 2005

•Judgement at Tokyo, Bass G.J., Alfred Knoff, 2023

•Zen Gardens, Masuno S., Tuttle Publishing, 2012

•Japanese Gardens Revealed and Explained, Chard R., Zenibo Marketing, 2013

•Japanese Stone Gardens, Mansfield S., Tuttle Publishing, 2009

#Japan #weather # typhoon #subtropical #Honshu #mountains #soil #volcano #soil #ethnography #

November 10, 2024

Revival of Pond Plants and Ecosystem Post-Hurricane Ian – Part Two

The plants of pond #47 are slowly recovering after hurricane Ian. This is part two of a three part series describing the slow recovery of the artificial pond that was created as part of a community wide system. Be sure to read part one of this series. The ten foot high storm surge from hurricane Ian brought seawater with its salt content and fish and other marine life. Because salt water is heavier than fresh water it sank to the bottom of the pond displacing a substantial portion of the fresh water. The ocean water is toxic to the fresh water species because it dehydrates the cells of salt intolerant plants and animals. This has been recovered by the inflow of fresh ground water and water filtered by community supplier. Now the water has a very low percentage of salt. My refractometric test for salinity tested on 5/1/2024 shows a near normal specific density of 1.002. We will discuss this in the next posting describing pond geochemistry.

The pond is surrounded by grassy lawns which are tended by the gardeners and home owners. At the water’s edge soil retaining mesh and plants have been added to prevent erosion. Most of these plants were thought to have been lost from toxic levels of salt. In the intervening two years they have begun to make a strong come back. They hold the soil, provide shelter for the marine animals and a feeding ground for the wading birds. Look at the previous post to see the birds feeding in grass and reed areas of the pond.

Pond plants

Net casting in pond to capture fish sample. This photo also shows round bright areas where Tilapia fish made nests

Soil retaining mesh submerged can be seen here. This was placed before the storm as part of the pond remediation.

Aquatic plant species used to reduce soil erosion.

Long view of pond looking from southeast to northwest.

Lance leaf Arrowhead, (*Sagittaria lancifolia*), Native, AKA Duck Potato.

Needle rush (*Juncus roemerianus*), Native

Horsetail spike rush *(Eleocharis equisetoides*) Native

Lawn, grass, Live Oak trees with marsh rushes and tubers surround the pond. They stabilize the soil and provide shelter and food as the basis of the ecosystem pyramid. It is only recently that the survivability of this plants was confirmed. Presence of these plants supports the concept of corner stone species. Without these plants the insects would not lay eggs. The fish would not feed on the insect larvae. The birds would not feed on the fish. This is further reflection of the eutrophic quality of the pond system.

Perhaps you have seen similar recoveries. Recall the experiences of the recovery of the Fulda river in Germany. Let’s hear about your experience! If you wish to contribute to the discussion please use the comment box.

The third of the three related postings on this pond will appear soon. It will describe the hydrochemistry and the micro aquatic inhabitants. Be sure to subscribe to follow along.

Also, feel free to use the discussion board to participate in one of the ongoing discussions or to introduce a new topic.

If you wish to be informed of new postings, lease enter your email and click on subscribe.

#Pond recovery #ocean water #Lance leaf Arrowhead #Needle rush #Horsetail spike rush #cornerstone species #

June 10, 2024

Cooperation of Wildlife and People: Bonita Bay Pond #47’s Ecological Success – Part #1

This is a story of cooperation among people and wildlife in the Bonita Bay community. This description is divided into three postings including the macro biology, micro biology and geochemistry. Pond #47 is in my backyard. The freshwater pond was inundated by sea water to a depth of 10.3 feet above MSL. The flood was a climatic challenge to the entire four square mile community property including all 64 retention ponds. The good news is that recovery is well on the way to near normal conditions.

This first of three postings shows the macro biologic content of the pond. This small body of water is in the Bonita Bay residential community in the city of Bonita Springs, Florida. It was artificially constructed nearly 40 years ago as part of a larger hydraulic system intended to manage the surface water of the community property. The property is bounded by Spring Creek to the north, Imperial River to the south, Bonita Bay to the west and highway 41 to the east. There are five animal phyla represented here and they are all thriving. There are also four plant phyla.

The featured picture is one of hundreds of halloween pennant dragonflies that were so full of beautiful color. I had to share it with all of you.

Fish:

Net casting was done to collect fish samples and to check the varieties. It shows the net hitting the water, the clarity and depth, and the light-colored ring patterns in the water are spawning nests created by resident tilapia in the sandy bottom. Other techniques included fly casting and spin casting with artificial bait. Six fish species were caught from the Anchorage Pond #47. They included Mayan Cichlid, Blue Gill, Tilapia, Largemouth Bass, and Snook. Numerous minnows were seen but not caught. Neighbors who regularly fish the pond suggest that there are more Tilapia and fewer Snook since the Ian hurricane.

Mayan Cichlid (*Mayaheros urophthalmus*) (invasive)

Snook (*Centropomus undecimalis*) (Non-native)

Reptiles:

Alligators and turtles live easily in the pond. The alligator population is variable and although it usually has one. During mating season there were at least two. The turtle population is greater than the alligators and from observation there are always at least four swimming near the surface. During the day these reptiles and crawl out of the ponds to lie on the banks.

Marine Crustaceans:

One marine crustacean type was found. Three Blue crabs were found in the water along the shore. These were probably brought in by the hurricane.

Blue crab (female), *(Callinectes sapidus*)

Birds:

The number and species of wading birds is highly dependent upon season and weather. The birds may select those areas of the shoreline which are favorable to their food and which may be protected from predators by alligators. Here are some of the birds in the shore line vegetation hunting and eating with the alligator in their midst. The osprey was standing quietly watching from the close by tree. These birds were seen in March/April. The birds included Great Blue Herron, white and tricolored Herron, Ibis, ducks, Wood Stories, Anhinga, and Osprey.

American Osprey (*Pandion haliaetus*) waiting in tree

Insects:

The most obvious insect which could be attributed to the pond were standing or feeding on the pound shore line. The dragonflies observed were exclusively the Halloween Pennants and were in the hundreds. The White Peacock butterflies were flying about in small groups or pairs just on shore near the grass.

Halloween Pennant Dragonfly, (*Celithemis eponina*)

White Peacock butterfly (*Anartia jatrophae*)

The diversity of the wild life supports the eutrophic designation of the pond. Further examples of this follow in the next two presentations. They include the plants and the microflora with geochemistry. Be sure to see them too!

This story is similar to the previous posting on a river restoration project found in Fulda, Germany.

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See the discussion board to engage with like minded naturalists and photographers or to open a new topic to share your thoughts. https://evergladesark.com/2024/04/25/discussion-board/

#Pond #Recovery #fish #insects #crustaceans # dragonfly # butterfly # turtle # Herron # Mayan Cichlid #Snook # Blue gill #bass #Osprey #White Peacock #alligator

June 8, 2024

Wildflowers in SW Florida – Xeric Group

This group of flower images were made from observations during the last February, March and April. This is the second of a series on wildflowers of SWFL. These images represent some of the flowers which were seen in three distinct environments: uplands, pine and saw palmetto flats and costal flats. There is some crossover of plants which may be seen in multiple environments. For organizational simplicity the images have been separated into two groups: those that grow better in moist soil areas are in the mesic group, those that grow better in dryer soils are listed in the dry mesic and xeric group.

The images which are used here for illustration show the beauty and diversity of the native plants. As a supplement to these images there is a spread sheet posted under PAGES of this site which lists the plant growing requirements. If you wish, this information may be used to assist in selection of plants which you could plant in your own SWFL community or home garden. The images are associated with a Fig #. That number is the data key number listed in the first (Left) column of the spread sheet. Use that number to correlate the image to the data.

The featured image is Figure 22. Pinebarren Goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa)

Figure 2. Nettle Leaf (*Salvia urticifolia)*

Figure 3 Florida Tickseed (*Coreopsis floridana*)

Figure 4 Nuttall’s Thistle (*Cirsium nuttallii)*

Figure 6. Simond’s Aster, (*symphyotrichum simmondsii)*

Figure 7 Southeastern Sunflower (*Helianthus agrestis*)

Figure 20 Flag pawpaw (*Asimina obovate*)

Figure 24 Tickseed (*Coreopsis Leavenworthii*)

Figure 26 Sweetscent (*Pluchea odorata*)

Figure 29. Rabbit bells (*Crotalaria rotundifolia*)

Fig 38. Rusty Lionia (*Lyonia ferruginea*)

There are definitely fewer flowering plants in the dry group. These flowers are less flamboyant in color, shape and size. The dominant chromas are in the middle of the visible light spectrum, the hues are in the lighter range and the values are in the middle zones. Their growth in single plants tend to be in dense florets and panicles. As groups of plants they tend to be distributed in patches of the landscape. This may be related to their propagation frequently by seeding.

For the gardeners be sure to check out the supplement to these images on the spread sheet in the Pages post on this site titled findings/Wildflowers in SWFL

References:

Real Florida Gardeners Guide lists native nurseries

Guide for Choosing Native Plants by Florida Wildflower Foundation

Pruning Notes for Native Plants by Grounded Solutions

Getting into the “Weeds:” An Introduction to Common Lawn Plants and Their Ecological Benefits

Plant This Not That book

Attracting Butterflies with Wildflowers by Florida Wildflower Foundation

Full Plant Reference List

Native Florida Landscape – Florida treasure coast

Estero preserve

Florida Soil

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#Xeric #wild flowers #native plants #noninvasive plants #

April 18, 2024

Wildflowers in SW Florida – Wet, Mesic Group

Here are images of flowers made from observations during the last three months. This is one of a series on native wildflowers of SWFL. These images represent some of the flowers which were seen in three distinct environments: uplands, pine and saw palmetto flats and costal flats. There is some crossover of plants which may be seen in multiple environments. For organizational simplicity the images have been separated into two groups: those that grow better in moist soil areas are in the mesic group. Those that grow better in dryer soils are listed in the xeric group.

The featured image is a Dixi Iris and a visiting Monarch butterfly

The images which are used here for illustration show the beauty and diversity of the native plants. As a supplement to these images is a spread sheet in the Pages post on this site titled findings/Wildflowers in SWFL. which lists the plant growing requirements. If you wish, this information may be used to assist in selection of plants which you could use in your own SWFL community or home garden. The images are associated with a Fig #. That number is the data key number listed in the first (left) column of the spread sheet. Use that number to correlate the image to the data.

Fig1. Water Pimpernel; Limewater Brookweed (*Samolus ebracteatus)*

Fig 8. Winged loosestrife (*Lythrum alatum*)

Fig 9. String Lily (*Crinum americanum)*

Figure 10. Scarlet hibiscus (*Hibiscus coccineus*)

Fig 11. Pickelelweed (*Pontederia cordata*)

Fig 12. Lizard’s tail (*Saururus cernuus*)

Figure 13. Mexican primrose willow, (*Ludwigia octovalvis*) INVASIVE!

Fig 14. Dancing Lady Ginger, (*Globba winitii*)

Fig 17. Spanish needles (*Bidens alba, Asteraceae*)

Figure 21. Tickseed (*Coreopsis floridana) State of Florida Flower*

Figure 23. Big yellow milkwort (*Polygala rugelii)*

Fig 27. Water Hyssop or Herb-of-Grace (*Bacopa monnieri*)

Fig 28. Salt marsh morning glory (Ipomoea sagittate)

Figure 30. Grassy Arrowhead (*Sagittaria graminia*)

Figure 31. Fragrant Flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus)

Fig 32. Saw Grass (*Cladium jamaicense*)

Fig 33. Coastalplain St.John’s-Wort (*Hypericum Brachyphyllum)*

Fig 34. Princess flower (*Tibouchina grandiflora*) (Not native, escaped house plant)

Fig 35. Brazilian Plume (*Justicia carnea)* (Not native, escaped house plant)

Fig 36. Orange Milkwort – Polygala lutea

FIG 38. Rusty Lyonia (*Lyonia ferruginea*)

Fig 39. Meadowsweet (*Spiraea cantoniensis*)

There are definitely more flowering plants in the music group than the xeric. These flowers are flamboyant in color, shape and size. The dominant chromas are in the ends of the visible light spectrum, the hues are in the more saturated range, the values are in all zones and they may be multi-chromatic. Their growth as single plants tend to one bloom. As groups of plants they tend to be distributed in patches of the landscape. This may be related to their propagation frequently by rhizomes.

For the gardeners be sure to check out the excellent PAGES Excel spread sheet for the Wildflowers of SWFL data on these beautiful images.

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If you wish to contribute a comment of engage in a discussion please use the comments block.

References:

Real Florida Gardeners Guide lists native nurseries

Guide for Choosing Native Plants by Florida Wildflower Foundation

Pruning Notes for Native Plants by Grounded Solutions

Getting into the “Weeds:” An Introduction to Common Lawn Plants and Their Ecological Benefits

Plant This Not That book

Attracting Butterflies with Wildflowers by Florida Wildflower Foundation

Full Plant Reference List

Native Florida Landscape – Florida treasure coast

Estero preserve

Florida Soil

#Mesic #wild flowers #native plants #iris #lily #hibiscus #milkwort #sedge #grass #tickseed #morning glory #lyonia #Meadowsweet #willow

April 13, 2024

Life – The lessons from SWFlorida Wilderness.

Sunset in mid summer on Bonita Beach in SWFL.

Wilderness health determines human health. Public wilderness health programs are needed to reduce pressure on the remaining wildlife and all other resources. We need to continue to develop new technologies that assist in adaptation to environmental changes without over demanding the resources. This is an essay combining physics and biology.

The featured image is the sun in hand near sunset. Please also see the previous post on Sand, wind, Water and Fire.

Energy and the second law of thermodynamics:

You can’t beat physics. Probably the most delimiting aspect of physics is thermodynamics. Life anywhere needs energy to live and reproduce. Ultimately the sun is the source of all power on earth. Cells, especially in plants, import the free energy from the sun and use nutrients and a complex chain of chemical reactions and specialized compartments to sustain life. This metabolic reaction, organized by DNA, supports internal organization, self maintenance and reproduction. This is net organization. It is an alternative to an increasingly chaotic environment. The unusable waste and heat is the entropic result of metabolism. The growth and storage of resources in organic molecules of plants plus reproduction are the valuable byproducts of life. Animals use a similar but more consumptive process in exchange for mobility and associated behaviors.

This schematic shows cell biology and the level of organization as the process of life proceeds. The ending relative degree of order falls below the start point because the cell uses energy and nutrients to create order in the cell. The resulting byproducts of metabolism are less ordered than the cell and less than the start point.

As long as the sun shines, and plants and animals consume less energy than the storage rate, the system is static or even increases order by creating a surplus of stored energy. Contrarily, if consumption is greater than the storage rate, energy is depleted and entropy increases. Currently humans are over consumptive. We are depleting the reserve energy resources with the untoward results of increased chaos. To cope with this we have some biologic tools that might help us. They are Darwinian in concept. These include four characteristics; genetic variance, species differentiation by inheritance, selection by survival of the fittest, and time. These tools can be used to adapt to the changing future. They are simple but require overwhelming cooperation.

Here is what we could do to change biology:

Preserve the genetic diversity of life. It will save time when we need life forms with special properties. Use or develop plants and animals which are survivalists for specific purposes. It is easier to maintain tough species forms rather than vulnerable species. Live in communities which are located in geologically and climatically stable environments. These areas demand less energy for maintenance.

To counteract the probable climate change and chronic over-demand, we could re-engineer plants and animals. If the rate of genetic mutation of selected genomes is increased and we environmentally promote inheritance by natural selection we could reset the consumptive rate then we could stop increasing chaos and rebalance the physics. Enhance species could replace those which cannot adapt to change. Effectively we could counteract our hyper-consumptive behavior and re-terraform Earth to promote survival of the wilderness. This would select for our survival and aim for survival of all. There are other helpful green power resources that are currently employed but they require substantial energy to build and deploy.

This is all a fantasy and another reality will probably develop. The power of the sun and the adaptive capacity of DNA are the two things that will not change. Change will happen. it is difficult to predict and it is impossible to prevent. One must plan for survival and learn to go with the changes.

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References:

Cell Thermodynamics and Energy Metabolism

Eukaryotic metabolism

Cell energy metabolism: An update

#sun #thermodynamics #genomic engineering #change #entropy

March 26, 2024

Sand, Water, Wind and Fire – Interpreting Findings From Exploring SW Florida

The ancient Greeks believed that there were four elements that made up everything. These were earth, water, air, and fire. The powerful image of these are readily apparent when walking through our wilderness. They form a landscape which we call an ecosystem.

The feature image is a composite of the elements which make up the four elements of a world view that lasted for three thousand years of human civilization. This concept was not challenged until the 17th century, not questioned until the 18th century, not recodified until the 19th century and not defined until the 20th century. Yet, when walking through our wilderness, it is easy to see why the simplistic view was so persistent.

In previous posts you saw the following scenes during our explorations of southwest Florida. Notice that all observations were based on sand. The most frequently found life forms have been the plants. The Slash pines, Saw palmetto, Ferns and grasses. are the toughest most productive species. They may not be the first responders but they are always the last survivors. They may not be keystone but they may be the cornerstone species

Sand supports plants and animals even those emerging from the sea.

Together with the energy of the sun, water is the stuff of life on our blue planet.

Wind is the great mover of everything from sand and water to fire.

In the flats and the hummocks, fire is both the destroyer and creator.

There are commonalities among the ecosystems we have explored in SWFL. What we see are the four elements of water, sand, wind and fire. We looked at hardwood hummocks, flatwood pines and scrubs and beach pine ecosystems in SWFL. The dominant surface has been sand but this is a specific old sand that doesn’t stick together because of its blunt, rounded surfaces and corners. Water has also been a constant factor in all of these environments. It has ranged from swamps to marshes, streams and ponds of fresh water to high salinity coastal ocean water. The size and shapes of the sands and the plants which live in them has been shaped by wind and selectively cultivated by fire. In casual observation we may not be aware of it however, on a daily basis, they are all in constant flux.

Hardwood hummock generated by the survivors allowing angiosperms and animals to specialize.

A marsh is unable to support trees or dry soil dependent animals but is filled with saw palmetto and other survivors.

Flatwood pines and scrub work together to provide the canopy.

Costal flatwood stabilize the sand against flood, wind and fire.

Although geologically, climatically and biologically diverse, these observations are consistent with those made in other parts of the world including our exploration of the equatorial and central Africa, Central Europe, Central and South America, the subarctic tundras of Canada and central and costal China. They all have cornerstone species which are tough and prolific.

Our persistent global view of our environment is delusional. It seems constant and simple. This perception is in conflict with the reality of global changes that are revealed only with fact based uber-human insights. From discovery of subatomic structure and molecular biology to views of earth from outer space and massive data and computational power we see that our earlier concepts were so shortsighted. Geologic and fossil records suggest that life with RNA began 2 to 3 billion years ago. RNA/DNA is the ultimate survivor. It persists in its myriad forms and is the foundation of all life today. If we allow ourselves to have a humbling experience we can see that although humans are now the dominant animal species it is a fleeting, precarious existence where we are so vulnerable to extinction. The next most dominant animal species is insects. Unlike insects we use and abuse the resources with intention or without it. The insects with the plants which occupy this land have a remarkable vast history of slowly changing physiology and appearance. Over time, they mutate, procreate, selectively survive and change to meet the planet which in turn reciprocates the change. They are aware only of earth, water, wind and fire. Still, they will out survive us.

Time line for the universe, suggesting the early existence of an RNA world of living systems.*

In the enormous scale of time, animal species and angiosperms have frequently changed. Birds and mammals which we enjoy today have developed only in the recent 65 million years since the last extinction; hominoids only in the last 1 million. In SWFL these plants are generally angiosperms like saw palmetto, slash pine, ferns and grasses including palms. The plants are quick to recover from wind and fire but genetically are very slow to change. They are the ultimate survivors with predecessors that date back hundreds of millions or perhaps a billion years almost unchanged. Some animals are ancient too, like the reptiles, insects and many marine animals. Relative to these ancient plant and animal species, all that we see alive today including humans are invasive species with which the plants have accommodated. We are continually faced with our own changes and that of the world around us. Of the species that are with us today, in time, most will disappear. The survivalists on land, like insects, gymnosperms, and reptiles will persist.

Interpretative summary;

Change is inevitable. Those who are able to accommodate to change are survivors. If the speed of accommodation to change is insufficient then to avoid extinction, the ability to recover from stress is imperative . There are some unavoidable extinction events. If you don’t like them, try not to create them.

So what:

We should rethink our relationship to the environment. We need to assimilate and cooperate with the changes. Resistance is futile. In a following post we will explore a futurist view of what will eventually be done. Evolutionarily the agent acting against physics and thermodynamics has been life. Life has survived by accommodating to everything during the last 3.5 billion years. Using the free energy from the sun, DNA collects and stores information, builds resources of energy storage and construction materials. With these it generates and executes algorithms that protect and promote self replication. For our survival we will do the same. This process is in our genes; in fact it is our genes.

References:

*Molecular biology of the cell,. Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. York: Garland Science; 2002.

Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al.

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# sand #water #wind #fire #interpretation #change #

March 9, 2024

Costal Hummocks – Part 2, Plants at Work

Nature Prevails in these two fashions. Some deeply rooted plants at some distance from the water line survive and hold the soil forming hummocks with their roots. This is a continuation of the previous post describing the effects of the hurricane Ian. The hummocks also contain the roots of herbaceous plants which are rapid growers that tolerate the sea water conditions. Together this army of plants are hard at work here: plants begin to trap and fix into place wind born sand.

The feature image simultaneously captures three concepts. The red severe weather warning flags are fully horizontal showing that there is a persistent 25 to 35 mph wind; the water and dunes are closed to the public; the pure white sand is flat and extends deep into the inland beyond any berm area. These are all signs that this is a distressed area that is a long way from a return to its former condition. The contributing factors are water and wing storm damage, persistent wind blowing onshore reducing the ability to hold sand; no plant roots have developed to stabilize the beach. Public access to the dune area would compromise the fragile environment and endanger its future.

This chart shows the Delver-Wiggins Pass State park. The red line is the only available walking path. The remaining park area is closed to the public at this time. There has been so much damage that the park service wants the public areas to recover without an interfering visitors who may simply walk on the new plants and retard regrowth.

The yellow lines describe the areas of interest which I was able to photograph using a long focal length lens. It was a very windy day with very few people on the beach.

Surviving old growth trees on islands of high ground hold the soil and provide the plants an opportunity to enter into the battle against the sea.

Sea Grapes and Railroad vines start at the hummocks

Sea grapes (Coccoloba uvifera) (no flowers, no fruit).

Railroad vines ((*Ipomoea pes-caprae*) (no flowers).

Important second defense plants, grasses are difficult to identify from a distance, perhaps saw grass, sea oats and a reed.

Long leaf yellowtop, (*Flaveria linearis*).

Yellow joy weed (*Alternanthera flavescens*)

The mangroves in the wetlands do not appear to be as resilient as the plants on the berms. They are suffering from the high salinity which is still retained in the water of the swamps. These areas need more rain and better drainage to dilute the salt and flush the system.

Mangroves in the swamp behind the tropical hummock.

Discussion about the future:

For the last 50 years this parkland has been tended and enjoyed by many people. It has been subjected to two cat-4/cat-5 hurricanes. Expensive rehabilitation was constantly used to reconstruct the beach berms, hummocks and swamps. Perhaps preventive measures would be a better alternative to this practice. Simple measures such as avoidance of cleaning beaches of detritus on beaches which trap sand and add nutrients for plant growth. There are more aggressive approaches. As seen in the illustration below***, these methods could include sand fences, sand entrapping peers and more demanding but effective projects such as offshore islands, and breakwaters, reinforced dunes, rip rap walls, mangroves, and fewer public use beaches. These may not be popular however they will hold the sand and protect the hardwood hummocks and the mangrove forest. This will not stop rising ocean water however, it will provide improved mitigation from the saltwater surge damage to private and commercial property and the lives of the tens of thousands of people who live, work and recreate here.

There are hundreds of references on the topic of beach dune restoration but fewer references discussing beach erosion preventive measures. Depending on wind and water beaches come and go. Because of our interference in natural cycles we may be a little late to consider let nature take its course.

References:

**Dune Restoration and Enhancement

Florida dune restoration

Surrogate wrack helps beach restoration

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#Costal #beach #erosion #rehabilitation #

March 7, 2024

Costal Hummock – Part 1, Effects of Hurricane Ian

We are exploring, the Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park which was substantially affected by hurricane Ian one year ago. This costal park has three characteristics including beach dune, tropical hummock and mangrove swamp that provide habitat for wide variety coastal plants and animals. Most visitors look at the tree line and walk away. They are attracted to the beach. This park is nearby the urban population of the city of Naples, Florida which is within easy walking distance of the entrance. Currently however, the tropical hummock and swamp areas are closed to the public. This adventure is a post-storm exploration of the beach dune. The beach took the full force of the cat 5 hurricane force 150 mph wind and was inundated by a wall of water 13 feet high traveling at a speed of 60 miles per hour*. Unlike the other places we explored, this ecosystem is on the front line to battle for survival against the sea.

Wiggins Pass in Bonita Springs, Florida is flanked by two parks Delner-Wiggins Pass park is on the southern flank. The GPS coordinates are marked.

The first visit, in February of 2023, was to observe the condition of the beach sand. Because it was only three months since the storm, I was expecting severe erosion however I was surprised to find that in some areas, the beach dune was gone. I took samples of the sand to see what the chief constituent type of particles were present. I also looked at the size and shape of the beach. If you wish, please check out the Everglades ark, Epicollect5/Florida Beach Sites to see what was found in the park at observations #84 and #85. As you can see it was worn silica and shell fragments. There was no undergrowth.

History**:

Wiggins Pass, situated north of the park, is the outlet for the Cocohatchee River. in the late 1800s Joe Wiggins, the first homesteader, ran an apiary and trading post where he traded goods with Seminole Indians and settlers. Collier County acquired the land through the philanthropic generosity of Lester J. and Dellora A. Norris, hence the name ‘Delnor.’ In 1970, the state of Florida purchased the land from Collier County for a state park, which opened in 1976.

During the approximate twenty years of 1950 to1970 the river was frequently dredged to improved boater access into the Gulf. This included the destruction of the adjacent mangroves in the area. Additionally, the placement of the dredging “spoilage” was dumped as berms along the channel. This action destroyed the natural barrier and filtration of the water and additionally blocked the natural hydrological circulation throughout portions of what was the mangrove forest. Through determined effort much of this damage was repaired. This required substantial rewilding of the area including removal of the berms, redirecting water flow to natural drainage, removal of non-native species such as Australian pines, Brazilian pepper, Wedelia and others, encouraging the return of native plants, planting sea oats, cordgrass, paspalum, and others to stabilize the beach after hurricane Ivan, forming corridors for return of animal species and encouraging the protection of endangered terrapins and crocodilians species as well as numerous birds and mammals Probably the most difficult process was the legislative effort and funding to make this area a State Park.

The Walk-about:

This post shows the observations of the recent second visit of this beach 15 months after hurricane Ian. The two visits are exactly one year apart. Starting from the guest parking lot and walking west to the beach the first sight is the water however the tropical hummock and mangroves are more interesting.

Keep Out! And don’t disturb the plants. The fence line is there to remind the public to help support beach regeneration.

“Renurished” surface of the inter hummock areas are completely sterile.

These mounds of sand are a fraction of the sand imported and used to refill the depleted beach**.

Remnant of the hummock near Wiggins Pass

The high ground hummock level with the sea

The tropical hummock is sitting at the shore of the former dunes. The hurricane winds ripped across the shore and the entire beach and miles inland were inundated by a an ocean surge that exceeded the tops of many of the trees. It hammered and then droned most of the trees with sea water. The dunes were gone. The hummocks were in the ocean and in some places the ocean surge uprooted the trees. With the help of the DNR, the State forest service and cooperation of the public, the dunes and hummocks will regenerate the beach dunes and prevent further erosion.

The surviving hummock plants are the resource for replanting the new sand on the beach

The railroad vines spread like spider webs across this new surface.

The radial outgrowth of the railroad vines from the hummocks is progressing toward the waterline. They are supported by the sand however the sand has almost no nutritional value. These plants apparently derive their sustenance from roots in the hummock and transport that until the plants gain a foothold in the sand.

The plants will rebuild and anchor the beach dune.

You can see from these images that the park service had added sand to completely rebuild the beach. The new sand is pure silica without any minerals or shell fragments. This was imported from open pit sand mines in the interior of the State. This action may placate the public demand however, I believe that this has questionable value for the environment. **

Discussion :

Instead of plant control by fire as seen in previous four posts, this shows the dramatic effects of invasion by the sea. The ocean leaves very little behind. The effects of drowning, the sledgehammer like force of the surge, the toxic effects of hyper-salinity followed by the bacterial burden from decaying plants and animals are all combined and are deadly. In this area the loss of property by ocean invasion is far greater than loss from fire especially in the urban areas.

In the next posting you can see the effects of plants in the regeneration of the area.

References:

*NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT HURRICANE IAN

**Delnor-Wiggins Pass, history

**Adding Sand to Beaches?

Mangroves

Hardwood Hammocks (hummocks) in SWFL

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#Wiggins Pass #Ian #hurricane #beach #costal hummock #mangroves #railroad vines #palm #sea grapes

March 3, 2024

Pine Flatwood / Scrubby Flatwood – Part 2

The purpose of this post is to show the details of the scrubby understructure of the flatwood pine of the Estero Bay State Preserve in Estero Florida. Additionally one can see the management of of the ecosystem with prescribed burning. in the first post about this site post we saw the general terrain of the pine flatwood of the State Preserve. Now we can compare this understructure to a previously explored Florida’s hard wood hummock.

The feature image is the Florida State flower. The Tickseed (Coreopsis Leavenworthii)

Scrubby flatwoods are characterized by an open canopy of widely spaced pine trees and a low, shrubby understory dominated by scrub oaks and saw palmetto, often interspersed
with areas of barren white sand.*

This image shows the size of the saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) scrubby flat.

Off the trails, it was very difficult to make any headway. I was insufficiently prepared for the hazards. Because of the dangerous anatomy of the saw palmetto growth, it was nearly impossible to walk. The stems of these palmettos were edged with saw like teeth. Without brush pants, shirt, gloves and boots it was impossible to venture by foot deep into the off-path areas without injury. There may be interesting animals living in this dense razor-sharp growth, however, that will wait for another day. In the future we will investigate these plants and this territory in more detail. I also walked into some of the previously prescribed burn areas.

Possible cogon grass. Seeds not visible. If it is this grass, it is invasive.

Bushy bluestem grass (Andropogon glomeratus)

There were also recently burned areas already showing extensive recovery. In these areas it is easy to see the root structure of the saw palmetto. They are like palm trees lying horizontally just below the surface of the soil. The fronds sprout horizontally from the roots. Without the herbaceous portion of the plants, it was much easier to walk off the path and see the regenerative behavior of the plants.

Roots and pinecones densely littered the surface and were robustly sprouting new growth. I could see no erosion of the soil caused by the surge in the areas with the saw palmetto roots. The burned areas were very interesting. It was evident that the green tops of the saw palmetto burn easily, probably because of their high oil content. The saw palmetto plants burn even when they are green. The surviving palm and pine trees were scorched and trunk surface burned but in the pines not down to the cambium and not into the tree crowns. Prescribed burning is an important part of the control measures for this area and deserve more attention.

Laurel dodder (Cassytha filliformis) Probably invasive vine.

The rich deep brown chromyl spectra of the charred forest ranging from deep chocolates to subtle cafe-au-lait plus the broad textural variety in this setting retains the promise of plant regeneration.

Prescribed burning:

Prescribed burn area showing the exposed sand surface with very low mineral and organic soil content

This view of the postburn area shows the root system holding the soil from erosion

Remnant of the saw palmetto growing from the remaining root

The surface of the slash pine scorched but not burned through to the cambium

The areas with prescribed burning seen a year ago also experienced a heavy flood surge from hurricane Ian. These areas have recovered. There are scorched trees and some deadwood, however, most of the scrub has regrown. It is difficult to distinguish the destruction of the trees from fire or from flood. There were also recently burned areas already showing extensive recovery. In these areas it is easy to see the root structure of the saw palmetto. They are like the trunks of palm trees lying horizontally just below the surface of the soil. The fronds sprout vertically from the roots. Without the herbaceous portion of the plants, it was much easier to walk off the path to see the regenerative behavior of the plants. Roots and pinecones densely littered the surface and were robustly sprouting new growth. I could see no erosion of the soil caused by the surge in the areas with the saw palmetto roots. The burned areas were very interesting. It was evident that the green tops of the saw palmetto burn easily, probably because of their high oil content. The saw palmetto plants burn even when they are green. The surviving palm and pine trees were scorched and surface burned but not down to the cambium on the pines and not into the tree crowns. Prescribed burning is an important part of the control measures for this area and deserve more attention.

Costal plane stagger bush (Lyonia fruticose)

Discussion:

The scrubby flatwood and the flatwood pines or the Estero Bay Preserve are very different from the C.R.E.W. Cyprus Dome walking trails. The concept off highlands in Florida are evident in the CREW when you consider the major differences in flora between the two Preserves. Subtle changes in land height make a remarkable difference in vegetation. One could almost exchange the term ‘Highland’ for “Dryland’. In fact, “High Land” designation could practically be made on the basis of vegetation rather than measurement. That relative dryness provided by a few centimeters on height changes the entire biology of the environment. The height advantaged trees are also phototrophic. They grow toward the light and therefore at their climax are broad leafed and wide spread. The plants of the flats are are geotrophic,. They grow high and narrow. They are not competing for the light once they rise above the scrub. This height advantage allows them to bring the crown of needles out of fire harm’s way. When comparing the role of fire in the two environments, fire in the hardwood climax forest is calamitous while fire in the flats are regenerative. I suspect that the nutrative value of soil in the planes areas will also make an important differences in plant selection.

Tougher clothing is an imperative for exploring the saw palmetto scrub.

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References::

*Scrubby flatwood

Saw Palmetto Control: Individual Plant and Broadcast Application

A Study of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Saw Palmetto Berry Extract

Typical yields in harvestable areas range from a low of 200 lbs. to more than 1000 lbs. of berries per acre.https://patents.google.com/patent/US6669968B2/en

Saw Palmetto Market https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/saw-palmetto-market

Saw Palmetto Berries https://fenuccio-j.medium.com/saw-palmetto-berries-996329cbec20

Forest Herbicide Workshop https://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/media/programsifasufledu/florida-land-steward/events-calendar/Minogue-2021-Forest-Herbicide-Webinar-Pine-Mgmt-FINAL.pdf

Harvesting Saw Palmetto https://sustainableherbsprogram.org/explore/plants-in-commerce/saw-palmetto/harvesting-saw-palmetto/

Sustainability of Saw Palmetto https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/132/table-of-contents/hg132-feat-sawpalmetto/

Saw Palmetto Structure https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2021/03/04/saw-palmetto/

#flatwood #saw palmetto #prescribed burn #

February 28, 2024

Pine Flatwood / Scrubby Flatwood – Part 1

Here is our chance to see and compare exploration experiences These are observations of a Pine flatwood in Estero Bay State Preserve, Florida which we will compare to an observed hummock system. In theory, this flat should not be here in South West Florida because the karst is close to the surface however other soil conditions are present.* We explored a Florida hard wood hummock in the last two post. Part one of this observation shows the general landscape**. Part two will show the details of the smaller scrub plants.

The feature image is the Florida State flower. The Tickseed (Coreopsis Leavenworthii)

The Florida Estero Bay Preserve comprises 11,300 acres (17 square miles) and is part of the Estero River delta. It has a complex assembly of plants and animals. There are two entrances. The southern River Scrub entrance was chosen because it opens into a scrubby flatwood pine area. Often this area is wet, however, today the specific area of interest was the dry scrub area. February is among the seasonally drier months and the plants should be typical of the reserve’s description.

This feature image is emblematic of a SWFL Pine flatwoods. They are characterized by:
Low, flat topography
Relatively poorly drained, acidic, sandy soil
Plant growth composed of open pine woodlands with frequent fires

The last time I was here was in February 2023, three months after hurricane Ian flooded this area with salt water to a depth of more than twelve feet. I then reconnoitered the area for just an hour with the intention to revisit with good preparation. On this day I was surprised to find the area reasonable vital however, some of the grasses and palm trees were still quite distressed.

February 2023. The only live oak in the area was easy to see, but could not be found Feb 2024.

February 2024. This slash pine did not survive the hurricane and flood surge.

The walk-about:

For nearly five hours I walked through a five-mile portion on and off the trails in the southeastern portion of the preserve. The trails were well marked, wide and relatively easy to hike. Off the trails, it was very difficult to make any headway. I was insufficiently prepared for the hazards of the flats. Because of the dangerous anatomy of the saw palmetto growth, it was nearly impossible to walk.

Savanna like flat covered with saw palmettos. Slash pines were about 10 meters apart.

The Scrub flat seen a year ago is in recovery. The palm has scorched bark.

This pine flatwood area was burned last year and has made an excellent regeneration. In the middle of the picture the lower leaves of the palm burned however, the crown is still intact.

This area was burn after hurricane Ian, The defoliation is is the result of both storm surge wind damage and prescribed burn. Many of the plants suffered and died as as result of the salt water immersion.

This return visit was exactly one year after the last. This area is very open and bright. The savannah like landscape was covered with low growth saw palmetto and grasses. This was regularly punctuated by sabal palm and slash pine trees. The difference between this pine flatwood and the hardwood hummock of the C.R.E.W. could not be more dramatic. When compared to the hardwood hummock, the flats had very few large gymnosperms such as the live oak trees. There were no hummock islands of bunched trees. While this walk-about was during midday there were few insects or birds. It was very quiet. One mated pair of ospreys were flying through the trees near the river. They occasionally ventured into the flats.

Tidal swamp land with brackish water tolerant plants including mangroves.

Unburned flood tidal marsh areas were not explored; however, they seem to be fully covered with mangroves. Photos of that area show the limit of the walk to the northwest.

Riverbank of part of the Estero River delta with mangrove.

Chart of Estero Bay South – Ecosystems,
walking detail. Red line is the walking trail.

Discussion:

The hardwood hummock had a range of elevations. The high ground was about 10 inched above the pond level. Contrarily, this ecosystem is very flat and at this time of the year is dry. The hardwood hummock had live oak trees with some pines and palms. The flatwood area at this location is populated almost exclusively by slash pines with a few palms and oaks. The understory is scrub consisting mostly of saw palmettos. Walking toward the wetlands, some hardwoods were in the ectotone between the flats and the wetland mangroves. .

There is much more to see in this preserve. During dry periods, the southern portion could be traversed on the paths by bicycle. Go to part two of this exploration!

References:

*Natural Resource certification

**Scrubby pine flatwoods

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#pine flatwood #scrubby flatwood #prescribed burn #tidal marsh #surge #saw palmetto, #ecotone

February 25, 2024

Florida C.R.E.W. Hardwood Hummock – Part 2

This is a description of the grassy and herbaceous undergrowth of this small part of the C.R.E.W. Together with the Part 1 post, the purpose of this presentation is to reduce the confusion of seemingly random plants and to help you understand why you see the what and why of the plants you see when you explore this type of wilderness area.

The featured image shows the “American beauty berry” in the understory. It was found along the trail to the live oak hummock on the path in the C.R.E.W. Cyprus Dome Cypress Hummock. This is second of a two part presentation of this area. The part one has the GPS location, charts and maps and describes the walk-about of the Corkscrew Reserve Environmental Watershed.

Perhaps the best way to understand the hydrology and geology for an area is to look at the plants. They have adapted themselves to use the area without the need to follow the resources like the animals. In fact the animals seek out the plants for survival. In these two presentations you can see the variances in plant anatomy and physiology through a series of locations. The plant adaptations have taken eons to reach the characteristics that make them identifiable as genus and apecies. The plants have the ability to adapt to the changing environment using two tools. These include plant succession and genetic mutation. Succession occurs when an ecosystem changes gradually or even catastrophically. This may cause the plant climax species to expire. Opportunistic species then overtake an available environmental niche. Mutations are genetic changes that take place at a known rate and this may result in variations which are better adapted to survive in an ecosystem. These mutations can be cumulative and can be perpetuated in the genome of subsequent progeny by inheritance of the variance.

Two signs of animal activity. The bear has slashed through the outer surface of a palm to feast on the honey made by a nest of bees.

This is a view into the scrub before the pond. From this distance the green mid-growth seems to be mangroves.

Here is a scene off the path toward the marsh with reeds and sedges and other grasses.

Thorn apple bush (*Crataegus alabamensis*) with the thorns as an identifier.

Possible Florida alligator weed with changing colors

This view is in the periphery of the transition zone with no oaks but many palms and saw palmetto dominating the understory.

Coastal plain grass-leaved-goldenrod (*Euthamia* *caroliniana)* (I think)

Shiny blueberry (*Vaccinium myrsinites*)

Meadowsweet at the edge of the hardwood hummock. Identification of this would be better if the blooms were fresh.

This is a sample of plants in the late transition zone. Note the oak tree litter which acts as a plant inhibitor. Though the “beans” contain no caffeine, they can be roasted and consumed as a coffee-like beverage.*

Bull thistle (*Crisium vulgare*), Invasive

Rosary pea (*Abrus precatorius*), invasive, highly toxic.

Beauty berry *(Callicarpa americana)*. The berries are edible to humans, although should be consumed in small amounts. Raw berries are edible, but generally are used to make jellies and wines.**

Observation of a confined area environment is a complicated but fun puzzle. The area should be visited during multiples of seasons, time of day intervals and length of observation to begin to grasp a comprehensive understanding of the area and begin to understand the reasons for classification and to understand the interactions of the plants and animals. Even simple identification is difficult when the plants are not blooming or in leaf. From this first time visit it can be discerned that there is a progression of plant types and land elevations in this small area. At the end of this presentation there is a simplified map of the area under observation.

This image of the understory in the oak hummock canopy shows the more dense plant undergrowth. This may occur because the oak tree litter is less prevalent and because some plants are less susceptible to the shedding of oak allelopathogens..

This is a sample of plants in the late transition zone. Note the abundance of oak tree litter which acts as a plant inhibitor.

No oak tree litter here and hence no trees, however, there are many herbaceous plants. That is a Fritillary Butterfly.

This simplified chart shows the four major ground areas that were observed. The hardwood hummock is about ten inches higher than the scrub flats. The scrub flats are about two inches above the level of the pond water.

The undergrowth depends upon water, sunlight, soil minerals and a range of allelopathic inhibitors. Be sure that you check out part 1 of this series. This understory is very different from that found in the Estero River Scrub Preserve State Park. We will go there in the near future.

Here is a recommendation. Go out into the nearby wilderness area. Pick a quiet spot and try to identify the type of environment classification you see or identify the undergrowth plants. It can be a fun and an educational challenge! Share your experiences or photos in the comment box below.

Reference:

Wild Coffee1

Wild coffee 2

Wild Weeds – American Beautyberry

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#hummock #succession #mutation #climax species #herbaceous understory #CREW #allelopathic #oak hummock #scrub flats #hydrology #geology

February 13, 2024

Category: Plants

Bauhinia and Hibiscus: A Comparison of Floral Reproduction

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