The plants here next to the trail are rushes, sedges, and grasses. Sedges and Rushes are typically indicative of open wetland areas. Grasses can be found in all habitats. They are three different families of plants but, in common names, the three terms are used interchangably for any "grass-like" plant. If you have an interest in remembering the differences among sedges, rushes and grasses there is a saying that goes: Sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses are hollow down to the ground.
First look for the Black Needle Rush (Juncus roemerianus). It is the tallest leaf here and is sharp as a needle at the tip. The leaves are curled inward and feel rounded if you take one between your thumb and first finger. The stem is not visible unless the plant is blooming. You will see Black Needle Rush scattered in wet areas among other wetland plants along the trail, but it grows in dense fields in the Saltmarsh that we will see later on. At this area it seems to be getting more abundant, and the sedges have not appeared so far this Spring (2023). This may indicate that water in this marshy areas has become saltier since Black Needle Rush thrives in saltwater.
There are several species of sedges two of which are shown in the picture, the Fringed Sedge (Fimbrostylis species) that has the flowers arranged in a spray, and the Spike Sedge (Eleocharis species also called Spikerush) that has its flowers arranged along the tip. If you roll the sedge stem you will feel some edge to it. In fact it has 3 sides although sometimes they may be subtle. The sedges will be spongy in the interior.
Walk down the trail a little until you come to some large bunches of Cordgrass (Spartina bakeri) . The leaves of the cordgrass are rolled, an adaptation to conserving water. They also have small sharp bits of silica along the leaves that feel like sandpaper if you rub your fingers down the leaves. The stems are hollow with no spongy material inside.
Now make a left turn at the arrow onto an access road that is just a few inches higher in elevation and kept mowed. The plants along the side of the road include sedges like we have already seen and the Star Sedge (Rhynchospora species). The spikey flowers are surrounded by white brackts which are leaves around the flowers that turn white when the plant blooms.
You will most likely see White Peacock Butterflies here flitting about or perched on the Starsedge. These butterflies are abundant at CHEC because the Water Hyssop, their favorite host plant , is abundant here. The Starsedge provides a high lookout point for the male White Peacock Butterfly to observe his territory and look out for intruders to chase away and females to mate with.
When this ground dries out in the winter, the starsedge will die back but the Tickseed (Coreopsis species) remains here year round. The bright yellow flower is the Florida State Wildflower and is an important nectar plant for bees, butterflies and other polinators. If you look carefully, you might see a Crab Spider waiting for a meal to land on its flower
