Field Journal

Throughout our many experiences in Colloquium class, we had the opportunity to grow familiar with a variety of plant and animal species that are native to Southwest Florida.

Several walks through our very own campus provided us with a wealth of knowledge about quite a few plant species. Just a few examples are the Slash Pine, the Melaleuca, the Coontie, and Wild Coffee.

Featured below is the Sabal or Cabbage Palm. It is the State Tree of Florida and can be found throughout FGCU’s campus. The palms have often been used to make chickee huts. An excellent example of this was seen when we visited Fort Myers Beach and could see several of the hotels who had constructed their own huts from the palms. The Cabbage Palm also has “boots” on its trunk, which serves as a habitat for living things like insects.

While on our field trip to Fort Myers Beach, we learned a lot about the Sea Grape. It is a native plant with large round leaves and “grapes” that can be used to make jelly. While we were on the trip, it was very exciting to be able to actually try the grape jelly. The Sea Grape has an interconnecting root system which helps hold the barrier islands together.

We also learned about the various types of mangroves. These include the black, white, and red mangroves. The Red Mangrove is often recognized by its root and aerial systems which are used to stabilize it. Its pointy leaves are also good identifiers. In class we learned a rhyme that goes, “red, red, pointy head.”

Our trip to the Corkscrew Swamp also provided ample opportunity for learning new species. We learned about Alligator Flags, which is a native swamp plant that was used to warn early Florida settlers of danger. We also learned about Lichen, which is featured below.  It is a combination of algae and fungi and is a good indicator of good air quality.

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