florida trees for stella maris...

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Florida Trees for Stella Maris FNE Southern Live Oak The Southern Live Oak is the Georgia state tree. This evergreen oak tree produces small edible acorns that attract birds and deer. This tree can grow up to 80 feet tall and spread out as much as 120 feet, providing a great amount of shade, and can live to be over 500 years old. The wood of this tree is hard, strong and heavy. Poisonwood The poisonwood tree can be identified by the black spots on its leaves and bark. These spots are caused by the urushiol oil that it produces. This oil can cause a severe allergic reaction when if comes into contact with skin. This is the same oil in poison ivy and poison oak. You should never touch the poisonwood tree or stand under it during a rain storm. West Indian Mahogany The mahogany tree is known for its very strong wood that is very resistant to decay and does not warp, shrink or swell. For this reason it was widely used to make furniture and canoes. This tree is now endangered due to over-harvesting. It can be easily identified by the hard seed pods that open to release winged seeds that can be carried by a breeze a good distance from the parent tree. The sides of the seed pod resemble large claws when opened.

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Page 1: Florida Trees for Stella Maris FNEstellamarisfne.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Florida-Trees.pdf · Cabbage Palm! The cabbage palm, also known as the sabal palmetto, is the Florida

Florida Trees for Stella Maris FNE!!Southern Live Oak!

The Southern Live Oak is the Georgia state tree. This evergreen oak tree produces small edible acorns that attract birds and deer. This tree can grow up to 80 feet tall and spread out as much as 120 feet, providing a great amount of shade, and can live to be over 500 years old. The wood of this tree is hard, strong and heavy.!!!!!Poisonwood!

The poisonwood tree can be identified by the black spots on its leaves and bark. These spots are caused by the urushiol oil that it produces. This oil can cause a severe allergic reaction when if comes into contact with skin. This is the same oil in poison ivy and poison oak. You should never touch the poisonwood tree or stand under it during a rain storm. !!!!West Indian Mahogany!

The mahogany tree is known for its very strong wood that is very resistant to decay and does not warp, shrink or swell. For this reason it was widely used to make furniture and canoes. This tree is now endangered due to over-harvesting. It can be easily identified by the hard seed pods that open to release winged seeds that can be carried by a breeze a good distance from the parent tree. The sides of the seed pod resemble large claws when opened.

Page 2: Florida Trees for Stella Maris FNEstellamarisfne.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Florida-Trees.pdf · Cabbage Palm! The cabbage palm, also known as the sabal palmetto, is the Florida

Gumbo Limbo!

The gumbo limbo tree is sometimes called the “sunburned tourist tree” due to the reddish, peeling bark. The bark of this tree can be used to a poisonwood rash. The wood of this tree was once used to make carousel horses.!

!!!!!Red Mangrove!

Red mangroves grow in salt water. Their complex, stilt-like root systems provide an important marine habitat and help protect coastlines from erosion. Their seeds, known as propagules, are dropped in the water and float around until they find a place to take root!!!!!!Slash Pine!

Slash pines live for about 200 years and can grow nearly 100 feet tall. This tree is an important part of the pine rockland habitat. This tree has "brooms" of needles at the ends of the branches. These needles are typically 5 to 11 inches long. It grows well in infertile soils near wet lowlands. The bark of the slash pine is thick and the tree produces 3 to 6 inch pine cones with a thick prickle on each scale. The slash pine should not be confused with the invasive Australian pine with its drooping needles and small cones that are less than an inch in size.

Page 3: Florida Trees for Stella Maris FNEstellamarisfne.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Florida-Trees.pdf · Cabbage Palm! The cabbage palm, also known as the sabal palmetto, is the Florida

Bald Cypress!

The bald cypress is a large tree typically found growing in swamps. In Florida, these trees can be 140 feet tall and 500 years old. The roots typically have “knees” that extend up out of the water or ground. Cypress trees are typically covered with Spanish moss.!!!!!!!!Cabbage Palm!

The cabbage palm, also known as the sabal palmetto, is the Florida and South Carolina state tree. This palm gets its name from the edible heart of the palm that tastes like cabbage. The cabbage palm is remarkably resistant to fire, floods, coastal conditions, cold, high winds and drought. It can grow over 90 feet tall and can be well over a hundred years old.!