The five-lined skink (pictured below) is a common species within Eastern North America. It can grow to over 8 inches in length.  Juveniles have 5 distinctive white stripes with a bright blue tail.  The stripes fade, the bright blue tail turns light blue, and the head becomes reddish when it reaches maturity. 

Often it is confused for the smaller, more fossorial, Federally protected Blue-tailed Mole Skink.  Blue-tailed mole skinks have much smaller legs and their bodies are a much lighter brown.  Bluetail mole skinks need loose sand for burrowing and typically inhabit sandhills, xeric hammocks, oak and sand pine scrubs, and turkey oak barrens. In Florida, bluetail mole skinks are found in Highlands, Polk, and Osceola counties along the Lake Wales Ridge (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001).

​Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
 
These reptiles are one of five species of tortoises found in North America, and is the only one found east of the Mississippi river.  They enjoy areas with an open canopy, diverse ground cover, and well drained soils for them to make their signature burrows. You can distinguish them from other animal burrows by their half-moon shape and surrounded by a sand apron. They are home builders for many species as burrows they abandon become new nests and hiding spots for other species. They use them to hide from predators, hibernate during the winter, and as a nest.

Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) is a common wetland plant found in swamps, bogs, and along streambanks.

​Its presence often signals healthy wetlands, as it thrives in moist, acidic soils and provides habitat for wildlife while stabilizing soil. This fern is an important indicator species during wetland assessments, helping identify areas protected by state and federal laws. Our team of environmental consultants can help evaluate your property to ensure compliance and balance development with conservation.  ​

Blad Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a tree species that just about every Floridian has
heard of, especially those buying lots to build on. But in case you haven’t seen or heard of them yet, they’re a species of conifers spread through the southeastern United States. You can find them as far west as Texas and as up north as New Jersey. They have bright green leaves with a soft and feathery texture, brown/grey bark that has long fiber-like ridges, and a straight trunk.

The Persian Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) or Mimosa is a Category 1 FLEPPC invasive species that is common throughout North and Central Florida.  It may look pretty, but quickly grows to over 50-feet and is difficult to get rid of once it's established.

Tickseed (Coreopsis sp.) is a common flower along the edges of Freshwater Marshes and in Pine Flatwoods communities throughout Florida.  This genus is a member of the Asteraceae family and is popular with various insects (bees, butterflies, etc). I believe the species pictured below is Leavenworth's Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii, FACW).  

Swamp Butterwort (Pinguicula planifolia, OBL) is listed as Threatened with the State.  It typically occurs in frequently flooded areas around Florida's panhandle.  Pictures were taken on a recent job near Crestview, FL.  

White Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus, FACU) also known as Old Man's Beard is a native  shrub (5-20-ft tall).  When in bloom (spring), it's drooping clusters of white blossoms demand attention.  However, the rest of the time it can be difficult to find. We recently discovered some in bloom (pictured) while in the panhandle.  It can be found throughout much of north and central Florida. 

Bluestem Prickly Poppy (Argemone albiflora) or White Prickly Poppy can be found throughout much of Florida in well-drained, upland soils.  It's low watering requirements and toxicity to wildlife make it a particularly good wild flower option for backyard gardeners with very sandy soils.  

Well, perhaps not by popular demand but instead by increased availability caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are happy to reintroduce the Verde "Native Plant of the Week" and "Invasive Species of the Month" posts.  We are going to try to get these out on a regular basis again starting this week.  Also, we are planning on adding an "Endangered/Threatened Species of the Month" series of posts to this blog.  Hope everyone out there is staying safe and practicing social distancing like Mr. Pelican so we can get back to normal soon!