Gulf Coast Barrier Island Flora & Fauna

This section is dedicated to the flora of the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast Barrier Islands. Most of these plants etc. are to be found on North Captiva, although it should be noted that there is little to no freshwater on North Captiva, except for a small pond.

Flora

[Trees] [Small Trees] [Palms] [Shrubs] [Wildflowers/Groundcovers] [Ferns] [Grasses] [Vines]

Fauna

[Small Mammals] [Amphibians/Reptiles] [Birds] [Butterflies]

Dune Community Trees

 

A community that is made up of sand, high drainage, salt water flooding, and salt spray. Dunes are constantly changing with wind and occasional storm surge.

 

COMMON               SCIENTIFIC                         HEIGHT         LIGHT

 

Gumbo Limbo              Bursera simaruba                    20-30’             sun

Mastic                          Masti. foet.                              15-25’             sun                  

Pigeon Plum                 Coccoloba divers.                   15-25’             sun

Sea Grape                    Coccoloba uvifera                      5-8’             sun

Southern Red Cedar     Juniperus silicicola                  10-15’             sun      

Wild Tamarind  Lysiloma latisil.                       20-30’             sun

 

 

Low-lying Area Trees

 

Areas that are at or near sea-level.

 

COMMON               SCIENTIFIC                         HEIGHT         LIGHT

 

Bald Cypress                Taxodium distichum               70’                   full sun

Black Mangrove           Avicennia germinans              25-40’             sun / part shade

Buckthorn                    Sideroxylum tenax                  15-20’             sun / part shade

Coastal Plain Willow     Salix caroliniana                     15-25’             sun

Green Buttonwood       Conocarpus erectus                40-50’             sun / part shade

Laurel Oak                   Quercus laurifolia                   60-70’             sun / part shade

Live Oak                      Quercus virginiana                 45-55’             sun / pat shade

Pond Cypress               Taxodium ascendens               70’                   full sun

Red Mangrove Rhizophora mangle                 25-40’             sun / part shade

Red Maple                   Acer rubrum                            60-70’             sun / part shade

Sea Grape                    Coccoloba uvifera                  30-40’             sun / part shade

Strangler Fig                 Ficus aurea                             30-40’             sun / part shade

White Mangrove           Languncularia racemosa        25-40’             sun / part shade

Wild Tamarind  Lysiloma latisiliqua                 50-60’             sun

 

Upland Community Trees

 

Upland Community: An area that rarely floods, gets less rain than other areas, and has extremely sandy soil.

 

COMMON               SCIENTIFIC                         HEIGHT         LIGHT

 

Gumbo Limbo              Bursera simaruba                    20-30’             sun

Mastic                          Masti. foet.                              25-40’             sun                  

Pigeon Plum                 Coccoloba divers.                   30-40’             sun

Sea Grape                    Coccoloba uvifera                  40-50’             sun

Slash Pine                     Pinus elliottii                           35-45’             sun      

Southern Red Cedar     Juniperus silicicola                  35-45’             sun      

Wild Tamarind  Lysiloma latisil.                       25-35’             sun

 

Wetland Trees

 

Areas covered in tidal flats, swamps and marshes.

 

COMMON               SCIENTIFIC                         HEIGHT         LIGHT

 

Bald Cypress                Taxodium distichum               70’                   full sun

Red Mangrove Rhizophora mangle                 25-40’             sun / part shade

Red Maple                   Acer rubrum                            60-70’             sun / part shade

White Mangrove           Languncularia racemosa        25-40’             sun / part shade