The document is a trail guide for the University of Central Florida Arboretum. It provides an introduction to the trail and terms used in the guide. The guide then describes 15 plant species that can be seen along the trails, including their scientific names, families, growth forms, key identifying features, historical uses, and edibility. The guide concludes with contact information for the arboretum.

1. References
1. D. Austin. 2004. Florida Ethnobotany. Fairchild Tropical gar- den, Coral Gables Florida.
2. Clipart ETC, Educational Technology Clearinghouse, Florida Center for Instructional Technology. http://etc.usf.edu/clipart (accessed 1 July 2013.)
3. Cape Coral. 2013. Best Native Plants. The City of Cape Coral, Florida. http://www.capecoral.net (accessed 1 July 2013.)
4. Deane. 2013. Eat The Weeds. http://www.eattheweeds.com (accessed 22 June 2013 through 1 July 2013)
5. M. Donnelley, G. Klowden, and A. Spivvy. 2013. Principles of Ecology Laboratory Manual. University of Central Florida. Pg. 42-46.
6. EDIS. 2011. University of Florida IFAS Extension, FL. http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ (accessed 22 June 2013 through 1 July 2013)
7. eFloras. 2008. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. http:// www.efloras.org (accessed 1 July 2013)
8. Flora of Alabama. 2013. Alabama Herbarium Consortium, AL & The University of West Alabama, AL. http:// www.floraofalabama.org (accessed 1 July 2013)
9. J. Karanfil. (2013, July 1). Montreal Wilderness (Web Blog). Retrieved from http:// montrealwilderness.blogspot.com
10. R. Noss. 1988. Endangered Species Update. The Longleaf Pine Landscape of the Southeast: Almost Gone and Almost Forgotten. The University of Michigan, MI School of Natural Resources. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu (accessed 12 June 2013 through 25 June 2013)
11. S. Schuerger. 2012. South Woods Branch Trail Nature Guide. Orlando Wetlands Park & City of Orlando, Fl.
12. W. Taylor. 1998. Florida Wildflowers in Their Natural Com- munities. The University Press of Florida
13. USDA, NRCS. 2013. The PLANTS Database (http:// plants.usda.gov, 25 June 2013 through 1 July 2013). Na- tional Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA
14. A. Clewell. 1989. Natural History of Wiregrass (Aristida stricta Michx. Gramineae). Natural Areas Journal 9:223- 233.
15. A. Koczlszky. (2013, July 25th). Gombamania (Web Blog). Retrieved from http:// gombaklub.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html
©2013 University of Central Florida. College of Sciences
Phillip Maxwell UCF, 2013.
Trail Guide
Natural Lands

2. Welcome!
The University of Central Florida Arboretum was established in 1983 and is host to 82 acres of native landscape. We have a rich diversity of intermixed ecosystems such as the Pine flatwoods, Scrub flatwoods, Cypress dome, Oak hammock, and Wetlands. Notice how fire disturbances and human contact play a role in shaping these ecosystems. Become familiar with the interesting history, ecological impact and cultural uses of plants right here at UCF and the surrounding Central Florida region.
This trail guide will include the Fire loop (0.81 miles), Cypress trail (0.71 miles) and Transitional trail (0.32 miles). Follow the numbered points on the trail and brochure map. Red arrows signify the Fire loop, Blue arrows the Cypress trail, and White arrows the Transitional trail or Oak ham- mock. The Scrub flatwoods is not included in this trail guide, but you may hike it as you please. The trail guide begins and ends at the Nature pavilion.
To guarantee a comfortable and enlightening experience we ask that you come prepared for a moderate hike. Please bring with you a canteen for water, insect repellant, sun protection, and comfy hiking shoes. Along the trail you will find many benches perfect for relaxing, so enjoy a snack or picnic! We ask that you also leave only footprints behind. You are bound to come into contact with Gopher tortoises or other animals that frequent the trail. Take pleasure in their presence but please do not touch or feed them. The brochure contains an abundance of information on edible plants, however, this information is purely for educational purposes. Please do not pick, harvest, or collect any of the plants at the Arboretum (wild animals have enough competition as it is!). This insures the next hiker’s participation and is especially true for plants and animals that are rare or endangered. Never eat any wild plant without first checking with a local expert. The trails are open from dusk to dawn.
Refer to the terms page for bolded words.
For more information please contact the UCF Arboretum at (407) 823-3583, or come by the our office (red star on map).
Happy trails!
Terms used
Deciduous: Leaves that fall off or shed seasonally.
Evergreen: Leaves that remain green and functional throughout a year.
Perennial: Persisting two or more years with new growth.
Simple: A single leaf, not compound.
Compound: Comprised of two or more leaflets.
Pinnate: Similar to a feather. Leaflets from compound leaf arranged on either side of an axis.
Palmate: Radiating lobes that connect to a common point. Resembling to a hand and fingers.
Petiole: The joining point and support structure of leaf to stem.
Sessile: Leaf connected directly upon the base of the stem.
Pubescent: Covered with small soft hairs.
Stamen: The pollen producing male reproductive organ. Consists of filament (stalk) and anther (pollen).
Tendril: Modified leaf, stem, or stipule that spirals and attaches to outside objects for support.
Aggregate Fruit: Derived from several separate ovaries grouped together on a single flower.
Drupe: Also known as stone or pit fruit. A one-seeded indehiscent fruit with a thin outside, fleshy middle, and hard inside. Ex. Mango.
Rhizome: Horizontal growing modified stem. Looks similar to a root.
Spikelet: One small bracted flower spike in a grass or sedge inflorescence.
Monocot: Any plant having a single cotyledon. (Dicots have two).
Alternate vs. Opposite Leaf Positioning,

3. 16
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1
17
7

4. 1a. Cabbage Palm
- Sabal palmetto; Arecaceae (Palm family)
- Subcanopy
- The iconic and frequently encountered State Tree of Florida.11 Cabbage palm is an evergreen monocot reaching up to 65ft in height and sometimes making up the dominant canopy (ex. Cabbage Palm flatwoods).12 Large palmately compound and alternate leaves appear at the top and many old leave stalks cover the trunk.13 The stem of the palm extends into the leaf, unlike Saw palmetto. The trunk is sometimes host to species of fern, a relationship known as commensalism.
- The drupaceous fruit and terminal bud, “cabbage” is edible. Also known as palm heart.1
Cabbage Palm, Clipart ECT
2a. Prickly-pear Cactus
- Opuntia humifusa; Cactaceae (Cactus family)
- Shrub
- On your right. Endemic to the Americas. The indigenous called flat padded cacti Nopal and its fruits Tuna.1 Perennial with succulent flattened pads and (warning) usually host to many spines. Yellow flowers bloom between March and August.12
- Both ripe fruit and young de-spinned pads are edible, although (warning) eating cactus fruit is said to turn urine red.1 Also red is the popular dye and natural food coloring that is made from the cochineal insect.4 Notice the soft whitish gray filament on the pads of cacti in which these the insect live. Opuntia is very nutritious and medicinally rich.1
Prickly Pear Cactus, Clipart ECT
2b. Chalky Bluestem or Broomsedge Bluestem
- Andropogon virginicus; Poaceae (Grass family)
- Ground cover
- On your right. Similar to a “man’s beard,” after the hairy spikelets. It is fitting Andropogon comes from the Greek andros (man) and pogon (beard).1 Bluestem is a native warm-season perennial grass that reaches heights of 3 to 5ft.5 A powdery “chalk” comes from the base of the stem which may help with water retention (Give it a touch!).
- Early settlers used the grass stems as brooms, hence the common name.1
Broomsedge Blustem, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
1b. Greenbrier
- Smilax sp.; Smilacaceae (Greenbrier family)
- Climbing shrub
- Found climbing on other plants. The Genus Smilax is derived from the Greek smilakos, which means twining (check out Smilax Greek mythology!).1 The Spanish called it zarzaparilla, which became the English name for the soft drink sarsaparilla.1 Smilax is a monocot with parallel venation. Some species have thorns and toothed leaves.
- Well-coveted by natives for its medicinal value.1 Tender new shoots resemble a walking stick insect and can be eaten raw in small quantities or cooked like asparagus.4 Young root-like rhizomes served as a starch and can be cooked and eaten.4
Sweet Sarsaparilla, Clipart ECT

5. 2d. Rusty Staggerbush
- Lyonia ferruginea; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- On your left. Can reach higher than 15ft tall in thick clusters of small to medium sized dark green leaves. Rusty pubescence covers beneath leaf and stem.5 White flowers between January and April.12
- A popular shrub in the ornamental plant industry.12
Rusty Staggerbush, Clipart eflora.org
4a. Pond Cypress
- Taxodium ascendens; Cupressaceae (Cypress family)
- Canopy
- Grows between 50 to 60ft tall and is the dominant canopy of the Cypress dome at the UCF Arboretum.6 Leaves have a pointed spike or awl-shaped that are stiff and upright.6 Foliage is deciduous and turns light brown in fall. Notice the “knees” during early stages of growth, although more in common in Bald Cypress. Normally located in areas of still water.6
Pond Cypress, Clipart USDA- NRSC PLANTS
Myrtle Oak, Clipart ECT
3. Sparkleberry or Farkleberry
- Vaccinium arboreum; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub or Subcanopy
- Arboreum means “treelike,” for its hardwood oak characteristics.1 Sparkleberry can grow more than 20ft tall. Occurs naturally in upland mixed forests, sandhills, coastal areas, and oak scrub12. Leaves are alternate with white flowers and shinny black berries. Berries have 5-calyx lobes or star pattern that persists on the fruit.4
- The berries are best when ripe. All other parts of the plant (leaves, roots, and bark) were used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.12
Sparkleberry, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
2c. Myrtle Oak
- Quercus myrtifolia; Fagaceae (Beech family)
- Subcanopy or Shrub
- On your left. Myrtle oak is an abundant evergreen tree at the UCF Arboretum. Leaves are simple, alternate, and oblong or tear drop shaped. On the upper surface leaves are green and shiny, on the bottom they are yellow to brown and smooth.5 Myrtle belongs to a group of red oak and produce acorns every two years.6 are small and normally grow individually.5 The cap covers more than half of the entire acorn.
Myrtle Oak, Clipart ECT

6. 5a. Sand Pine
- Pinus clausa; Pinaceae (Pine Family)
- Canopy
- Clausa means closed, referring to the delayed opening of cones that are triggered by fire.1 Resembles a Christmas tree (think Santa clausa!) An evergreen conifer with small 2-3” needles, 2 per bundle.5 Mature Sand Pine can reach up to 60ft, few remain past 100 years of age.13
- Usually located in sandy well-drained soil. Seeds are well dispersed in frequent moderate fire, although mature trees are typically killed.13
- See Pinus palustris uses.
Pinus clausa, Clipart eflora.org
5b. Netted Pawpaw or Dog Banana
- Asimina reticulata; Annonaceae (Custard apple family)
- Shrub
- Pawpaw is originally from the Taino papa- ya and is a native of Florida.1 Characterized by its woody stems and alternate, dark green, rough, elliptic to oblong leaves.12 White flowers between January and July.12 Try crushing a leaf in your hand, you may smell an aroma similar to freshly cut green bell peppers.
- Berries are oddly shaped, green ripening to yellow and edible. Taste and aroma resemble a banana.1
Anne Murray, University of Florida
6a. Adam’s Needle or Spanish Bayonet
- Yucca filamentosa; Agavaceae (Century plant family)
- Shrub
- Pronounced (YUK-ka), not to be confused with the common cultivated yuca (YEW-ka).4 A perennial monocot with trunk up to head height. (warning) Leaves are sharp at ends, hence the name bayonet. Flowers are white, leaning, and bell-shaped.12 Notice the frayed threads from leaf margins.
- Leaves make strong cordage. Roots have been boiled and used as soap from high saponin content.13 Many skin ailments were treated from root decoctions.13
Yucca filamentosa, Clipart ECT
4b. Blackberry
- Rubus sp.; Rosaceae (Rose family)
- Shrub
- Perennial shrub. Toothed 3 to 5 leaflets with thorny vining stem and arching cane. White flowers with 5 petals and many stamen.12 Berries ripen from reddish pink to black. (Warning) rough and prickly, dress appropri- ately while hiking in areas of abundant blackberry.
- Delivers an antioxidant rich aggregate fruit of tiny drupelets. Dried leaves make a medicinal tea.4
Blackberry, Clipart ECT

7. 8. Wild Rosemary or Sand heath
- Ceratiola ericoides; Empetraceae (Crowberry family)
- Shrub or Herb
- An evergreen shrub in sandy scrub soils usually occurring with pine and small oak13. Closely related to plants from Ericaceae (heath family). Fire kills rosemary but stimulates reproduction13. Some endemic animals are known to inhabit patches of wild rosemary.
Florida Rosemary, Clipart ECT
7. Gopher Apple
- Licania michauxii; Chrysobalanaceae (Chrysobalanus family)
- Dwarf shrub
- Scattered among the ground. Species named after French botanist André Michaux (1746- 1802).1 Gopher tortoises enjoy the low-lying fruit, which led to the plants common name. Ev- ergreen small shrub reach- ing about 1ft tall. Leaves are alternate and oblong with a smooth green upper surface and visible venation. White pubescent flower clusters from March to Au- gust.12
Troy University Herbarium
9a. Sand Live Oak
- Quercus geminata; Fagaceae (Beech family)
- Subcanopy
- Evergreen small to large sized woody tree, common in dry habitats. Sand live oak makes up the dominant canopy in the Oak Hammock. Leaves are simple, alternate, leathery, dark green with curled or scooped margins and impressed veins.5 Leaf veins are also coarse with short hairy petioles and dull gray undersides.5 Acorns are brown and ellipsoid shaped in pairs.5
Quercus geminata, Clipart eFlora.org
6b. Chapman’s Oak
- Quercus chapmanii; Fagaceae (Beech family)
- Subcanopy or Shrub
- On the left side of the yucca. Common in the Southeastern United States making up a dense subcanopy of scrub vegetation. Leaves are sim- ple, alternate with smooth wavy margins and
Chapman’s Oak, Clipart ECT

8. 10b. Muscadine Grape
- Vitis rotundifolia; Vitaceae (Grape family)
- Vine
- “Having flavor of musk,” from the Latin muscatus.1 High climbing vines with single tendrils (escaped hybrids have two tendrils).4 Alternate simple leaves with clumps of purple berries. Edible berries help seed dis- persal. Notable uses are jams and wine. Muscadine contain an- tioxidants which have been used to slow the aging process and cancer growth.1
Muscadine, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
9b. Spanish Moss or Graybeard
- Tillandsia usneoides; Bromeliaceae (Pineapple family)
- Vining herb
The name Usneoides originates from its resemblance to the lichen Usnea.4 Spanish moss is neither Spanish nor a moss, rather a flowering plant.8 Grayish white linear and awl-shaped leaves.12 Grows predominantly on Sand live oak in the Oak Hammock.
- Natives used the inner dried fiber for everything from cordage to a material for fire arrows.13 Made into a medicinal tea for fever and colds.1
Spanish Moss, Clipart USDA- NRSC PLANTS
10a. Bracken Fern or Eagle Fern
- Pteridium aquilinum; Dennstaedtiales (Brake Fern family)
- Shrub
- Fern comes from the Greek pteris.1 The fronds resemble an eagle’s wing and are separated into 3 main sections.1 Plants are widely distributed throughout the world.
- People have eaten young fiddleheads (curled buds) and prepared medicinal decoctions from the plant pre-civilization, although new information suggests it is carcinogenic when eaten raw.4
Bracken Fern Clipart USDA-NRSC
9c. Christmas Wreath Lichen
- Cryptothecia rubrocincta; Arthoniaceae (Lichen/ Fungi family)
- Lichen
- Look for a distinct red-ringed pigment found growing on portions of Sand live oak in the Oak Hammock. Lichens share a symbiotic beneficial relationship between algae and fungus.11 The fungus supplies protection and allows the algae to photosynthesize which provides food for both.11
Gombamania, Andrea Kocziszky 2013

9. 12a. Fetterbush
- Lyonia lucida; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- Named after gardener John Lyon (1765-1814).1 Fetterbush is a common 3-5' tall shrub in pine and scrub flatwoods.12 Leaves alternate and simple with light veins that are shiny on top and dull beneath. Small white and pink flower between November and June, woody stems are brown to red.12
Fetterbush, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
11b. Wiregrass
- Aristida stricta; Poaceae (Grass family)
- Ground cover
- Thought of as a “relict,” or remnant of previous climatic conditions. Some areas of wiregrass date back 5,000 years.10 Upright clumps of grass, blades resemble wire.5 Wiregrass flowers in the summer following fire.10 Naturally selected to survive frequent fire, wiregrass aids in the exclusion of foreign invasive plants and as a fuel source to control fire intensity.14 Fire suppression leads to root competition with hardwood oak.10 Reestablishment is difficult after exclusion.10
Wiregrass, Clipart USDA- NRSC PLANTS
11c. Tarflower
- Bejaria racemosa; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- Genus named after botanist José Bejar. Grows larger than 7 feet with upright branches. Simple alternate leaves and identified by hairy stems when not flowering (think Behairia). Fragrant white and pink flowers open between April and September.12 Its common name comes from sticky tar-like flowers.
- Insects are observed accidently entombing themselves in the flowers, perhaps being absorbed by the plant as they fall to the ground.
Tarflower, Clipart eFlora.org
11a. Long-leaf Pine
- Pinus palustris; Pinaceae (Pine family)
- Canopy
- Pinus (PIE-nus) is Latin for pine. Palustris comes from Latin “of swamps,” a misnomer.1 Long needles with 3-per bundle, cones are between 6- 10”. Juveniles resemble a clump of green grass before a rapid stage of primary growth5. Mature trees may reach heights of 115 feet and live for centuries.7 Pines have flourished in this region due mainly to their ability to adapt and reproduce in the presence of frequent fire regimes about every 2 to 5 years.10
- Pine needle tea is prepared from live needles and is resinous and high in Vitamin C. Sailors prepared this tea to prevent scurvy.4 The area between bark and hardwood (cambium) has been eaten as a famine food.
Long-leaf Pine, Clipart USDA- NRSC PLANTS

10. 13b. Shiny Blueberry
- Vaccinium myrsinites; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- Our most frequent local blueberry, V. myrsinites is a 2ft tall evergreen shrub that grows in small patches. Leaves are small, alternate, glossy green, and ovate or spatulate to elliptical.12 Flowers are white and appear from November to June. Berries have 5-calyx lobes or star pattern that persists on the fruit.4
- Natives prized this species for its universal medicinal application. Berries are glossy black
Brevard County Herbarium
14a. Saw Palmetto
- Serenoa repens; Arecaceae (Palm family)
- Shrub
- The Genus Serenoa was named after botanist Sereno Watson, which means calm in Latin.1,4 Repens meant reclining or “creeping.1,4 Shipwrecked Quakers described the taste of berries as “rotten cheese steeped in tobacco juice.”1,4 A monocot with erect or leaning palmate leaves. Stems are saw-toothed and do not continue into the leaf. The most common shrub in the pine flatwoods, especially in areas left unburned. Saw palmettos cover nearly 10% of Florida and are a good source of honey for pollinators.4
- The heart, berries, and petiole end of young fronds are edible. Nutrient dense berries contain high traces of fatty oil and sugar.1
Saw palmetto, Clipart ECT
13a. Huckleberry or Dangleberry
- Gaylussacia frondosa; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- Named after French chemist Louis Joseph Gay- Lussac. Frondosa means leafy.1 Huckleberry is a perennial shrub reaching maturity at about 6ft. Leaves are elliptic and lightly scattered among the plant.12 You may notice a striking similarity to blueberries (which are true berries). Huckleberries have 10 drupe-like seeds and, in the right light, you can see the small shiny golden spots on the leaf underside.4
- Use fruit as you would blueberry.
Huckleberry, Clipart ECT
12b. Piedmont Staggerbush
- Lyonia mariana; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- Piedmont can reach up to 6ft tall. Leaves are alternate, simple, and oblong.12 Dimmer than fetterbush (Lyonia lucida) but wider than rusty staggerbush (Lyonia ferruginea), the leaves are also frequently spotted with black dots. “Rust” forms on some plants similar to rusty staggerbush. Produces white flowers and fruit capsules.12
- Native Seminoles made pipe bowls from Lyonia wood1.
Piedmont, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS

11. 15b. Winged Sumac
- Rhus copallinum; Anacardiaceae (Cashew family)
- Shrub or Subcanopy
- Copallinum comes from copal (resin).1 Sumac is a deciduous shrub reaching 20 or more feet. Leaves are alternate, sessile and compound.12 Leaves turn red during the fall. The flowers cluster near the top and the fruit (drupe) are red and pubescent.12 Flowers appear from June to September.12 Sumac comes from the same family as poison ivy, mangos, and cashews.
- A refreshing ade can be made from the acidic fruit hairs, best before rain.4
Winged Sumac, Clipart USDA- NRSC PLANTS
16a. Inkberry or Gallberry
- Ilex glabra; Aquifoliaceae (Holly family)
- Shrub
- Latin Ilex comes from the ancient name for European holm oak tree. Glabra means without pubescence, combining to form smooth oak (misnomer).1,4 Inkberry is a very common evergreen shrub in the pine flatwoods. Light green leaves are simple and alternate. Notice the “teeth” near the margins at the apices. Plants are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are on two separate plants.7
- A decaffeinated tea can be made from leaves. Fruit is black, bitter, and non-edible.4
Inkberry, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
15a. American Beautyberry
- Callicarpa americana; Lamiaceae (Mint family)
- Shrub
- A simple yet elegant name given by the “Father of Taxonomy,” Carl Linnaeus.1 From the Greek kalli (beautiful) and karpos (fruit).1 Beautyberry grows to about 6ft with axillary clusters of flowers and fruit around stems. Leaves are opposite and hairy beneath.12
- Flowers and berries are pink to purple and have an unfavorable taste, better used for jam or jelly. Leaves have been used as poison to stun fish. A medicinal tea can be made from the berries and roots.1,4
American Beautyberry, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
14b. Wax Myrtle or Southern Bayberry
- Myrica cerifera; Myricaceae (Bayberry family)
- Subcanopy
- Near Creol Pond. From the Greek myrike, referring to an Old world fragrant plant (tamarisk).1 Cerifera means wax bearing.1 Wax Myrtle is an evergreen shrub that can reach more than 25ft tall. Leaves are simple, alternate, narrow, and toothed at the apice.12 If crushed the leaves excrete a pleasant aroma. Birds are fond of the berries, which help the plant to disperse.
- The berries are covered in wax and can be boiled to make aromatic candles. Leaves are used as a seasoning, rubbed on skin as a mosquito repellent, an extender for smoking tobacco, and to improve the foam in beer.1 Medicinal tea was made
Wax Myrtle, Clipart ECT

12. 16c. Salt Myrtle
- Bacharris halimifolia; Asteraceae (Sunflower family)
- Shrub or Subcanopy
- Commonly found near the edges of moist habitats.1 The plant reaches up to 15ft in length and leaves are simple alternate with a shiny green color above and dull underside.5 Near the top leaves toothed surrounding the apices, similar to a serrated ducks foot. White paintbrush like flowers in late summer and fruit (achene) in fall.1,5 Great source of honey for pollinators.13
- Once prized medicinally and used to treat a variety of respiratory ailments. Branches used to remove spines of the prickly pear cactus.1
Salt Myrtle, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
17a. Deerberry or Buckberry
- Vaccinium stamineum; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- A species named after its protruding stamen, making it easy to identify when flowering. The plant can reach heights of up to 5ft.12 Leaves are alternate and egg shaped. Berries have 5-calyx lobes or star pattern that persists on the fruit.4 Like the name implies, deer as well as birds, bears, and rabbits enjoy snacking on the berries and leaves.4
- Taste ranges from bitter to sweet. Best when fully ripe.
Vaccinium stamineum, Clipart ECT
17b. Live Oak
- Quercus virginiana; (Beech family)
- Canopy
- Commonly the dominant canopy in Southern United States climax ecosystems. Can reach an average height of 50ft with a wide trunk and long thick branches, however, this oak has yet to mature. Leaves are simple, alternate, elliptical, and rigid.5 The top of the leaf is dark green and shiny but dull and gray on the underside.13 Oak makes a great building material, specifically boats. Acorns are edible but usually bitter. They can be made into a nutritious flour if leached of tannin and not compromised by insects.1
Live Oak, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS
16b. Highbush Blueberry
- Vaccinium corymbosum; Ericaceae (Heath family)
- Shrub
- A 6 to 12ft tall native perennial. Leaves are simple, alternate, and elliptic or ovate.12 Flowers are white and 5-calyx lobes or star pattern that persists on the berries.4 Berries are red and ripen to a dark blue.
- Highbush and its many hybrids are the major cultivated blueberry.13
Highbush Blueberry, Clipart USDA-NRSC PLANTS

13. This concludes the Trail Guide at the UCF Arboretum. The information provided here is also relevant for portions of Central Florida and Southeastern United States. You are welcome to test your knowledge on our Scrub flatwoods trail or come back anytime between dusk and dawn. We hope you had a great time!
Notes: