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
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
Black Mangrove Avicennia germinans 25-40’ sun / part shade
Buckthorn Sideroxylum tenax 15-20’ sun / part shade
Coastal Plain
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
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
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