WEDELIA/CREEPING OXEYE
Scientific name: Wedelia trilobata
Family: Asteraceae/daisy
Origin: West Indies
Description:
Creeping perennial from shallow roots; stems usually hairy, growing flat along the ground except for the flowering branches. Erect branches can grow to four feet, while creeping ones can reach up to twelve feet in length. Leaves are opposite, somewhat succulent, leaf blades are irregularly toothed. Flowers are orange to yellow heads, solitary, found near or at stem tips.
Habitat/Ecology:
Occurs in pine flat woods, coastal dune and strand, marshes, lake and pond shorelines. Forms dense ground cover, smothers native ground cover and seedlings of overstory.
WINGED YAM
Scientific name: Dioscorea alata
Family: Dioscoreaceae/yam
Origin: Southeast Asia
Description:
An aggressive, twining, herbaceous vine, from massive underground tuber. Stems can reach thirty feet or more in length, winged. Aerial tubers formed where leaf is joined to stem, four inches long, with rough, bumpy surfaces. Leaves are long stalked, opposite, blades often eight inches or more in length, narrowly heart shaped. Flowers are small, occasional, male and female arising where leaf is joined to stem, male flowers in loose irregular clusters one foot long, female flowers in smaller spikes. Fruit a three-part capsule; seeds winged.
Habitat/Ecology:
Occurs frequently in hammocks, enveloping native vegetation and mature trees. Generally grows for eight-ten months, then goes dormant for three-four months, with aerial stems dying back during dormant season. Reproduces primarily by aerial tubers and fragments of underground tubers.
WOMAN'S TONGUE
Scientific name: Albizia lebbeck
Family: Fabaceae/pea
Origin: Tropical Asia
Description:
Deciduous tree to sixty-five feet tall, with a rounded, spreading crown, and pale bark. Leaves are alternate, twice compound, with two-five pairs of pinnae, each stem with three-ten pairs of leaflets. Leaflets elliptic to oblong, one-two inches long, dull above, paler green below, leaflet attached directly to stem. Flowers similar to mimosa, in showy, rounded clusters near stem tips, two-2.5 inches across, cream or yellowish to white. Fruit is a flat linear pod, up to one foot long, with many seeds, dried pods persistent after leaf fall, often heard rattling in the wind.
Habitat/Ecology:
Occurs in pine flat woods, tropical hammocks and various habitats. Grows well with average annual rainfalls, can tolerate coastal salt spray, with some protection.
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