Florida Native Plant Haiku, Gallberry (aka Inkberry), Ilex glabra for Monday

Gallberry-Inkberry, Ilex glabra

Gallberry (aka Inkberry) Ilex glabra by Kevin Songer

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munch inkberry drupes

old turkey, possum and deer sport

smeared purple lips

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Gallberry is also known as inkberry, and its dark black juice filled berries have been used by peoples over generations as ink. Birds and wildlife relish the berries for forage. Early settlers and indigenous peoples have made a tea similar to yaupon tea from gallberry’s leaves (see Appalachian tea). Interestingly, gallbladder is a holly like yaupon however gallberry’s leaves do not contain the significant amount of caffeine that yaupon leaves possess. Gallberry’s flowers attract bees from afar. Gallberry honey is highly prized by many.

Florida Short Verse Poetry, Winged Sumac

Winged sumac, Rhus copallinum

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pucker up those lips

Florida lemonade stand

sour cracker cool-aide 

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Luna moth prefers winged sumac as a larval host plant, Kevin Songer, Florida Nature Art

Winged sumac is also known as Florida lemonade due to the sour berries found growing in clusters on the shrub.  Traditionally these berries, high in vitamin C, were used to make a tasty drink.  Late summer winged sumac turn a green roadside to flaming orange and red.  Luna moths use winged sumac as a larval host plant.  Winged sumac is a fast growing native shrub great for landscaping and wildlife habitat.

Peppergrass, Lepidium virginicum Florida Native Plant Short Verse

Florida Wildflower Poetry, Peppergrass, Lepidium virginicum

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vacant lot snacking
munch leaves and spicy seeds
i'll try if you do
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Peppergrass, Lepidium virginicum.  Peppergrass brings back fun memories from my childhood where we would sit in the vacant lot and pick peppergrass seeds off the stem for spicy childhood snacking.  An important forage plant for wildlife and birds.

Climbing aster, Symphyotrichum carolinanum, Florida Wildflower Poetry

Climbing aster, Symphyotrichum spp.

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lilac stars climb
wreathed through cypress, bag of
yarn not twisted more
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Climbing aster can be reliably found in full lush bloom, even in the driest and hottest of summer droughts.  This shrubby vine produces masses amounts of highly fragrant luminous purple and mauve flowers. Once the vines start weaving through trees they form an almost impenetrable barrier.  When no other summer drought flowers can be found, climbing aster is there to feed hungry monarch butterflies.