Introduction - Recognizing Native Plants
BC North Campus

Directions:
    This module is designed to help you become familiar with selected native plants (exam 3) in the butterfly garden located on the east side of Building 57 and in the fern and air plant sanctuary behind the gate in the interior garden of that building. In addition, you will be studying selected native plants around the BC North Campus Wetland located at the south end of the campus and in the Tropical Hardwood Hammock located on the east side of Campus behind the handball and tennis courts.  After completing the exercise, identify the plants in these photos "in the field" .  Practice your identification skills by looking for these native plants in the landscaping of parking lots, road medians, and residences throughout the community.
    The plants by the wetland are divided into three zones according to their locations relative to the 6.5 acre lake behind the south parking lot.  Click on a link to take you to photographs and information about plants found in each zone.   The scientific name is provided for each species. However, you are not required to memorize the genus and species.

Littoral zone (exam 1)

This is the shallow area around the water's edge with rooted emergent vegetation. The soil remains saturated with water even during the dry season when there is no standing water.
Transitional zone (exam 1) The slightly higher elevation landward of the littoral zone supports plant species adapted to different conditions.  This area may be flooded at times of very high water levels but the soil does not remain permanently saturated.

Upland plants (exam 2)

 

 Landward of the transitional zone at higher elevations the soil is better drained.  Native species from a variety of South Florida upland ecosystems have been planted around the wetland. 
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