Florida is Home to Great Native
Plant Life
Are you aware that much of Florida's
native plant life is in danger? Many times, activists concerned
with environmental issues tend to overlook such ordinary things
as trees, shrubs, and flowers when thinking about ways to conserve
the natural habitat around them.
However, these plants are just
as important to sustaining an ecosystem as other natural components
such as waterways and animal life.
Defining Native Plants
Plants that are native to the
state of Florida are not quite as easy to define as one might
at first think. Certainly there were many species of plants encountered
by Columbus when he first stepped foot on the land centuries
ago. But since then, subsequent explorers introduced many new
species brought from a variety of global locations.
They may not have been originally
indigenous, but such things as papayas are now considered to
be well-established in the state and thus can now be thought
of as native. In the Florida Keys, Geiger trees and Pitch Apples
abound, yet their origin was most likely from the Caribbean Islands.
Then there are Dade pines and Lake Wales Ridge scrubs. Although
these trees are found only in isolated habitats, their importance
as a native species is no less.
According to the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection, a native plant is one of "a
species that occurred in Florida at the time of European contact
or 1500s." Under this definition there are 54 species which
can be considered endangered or threatened by such factors as
large-scale land development.
It is interesting to note that
only California has more plant species considered rare than Florida
in all of the continental United States. Their rarity is due
to the prevalence of isolated habitats in the state, biogeographical
historical factors, human hunting, and the introduction of non-native
pests and diseases.
Why Plant Protection is Important
According to the federal Endangered
Species Act of 1973, endangered species of any type "are
of aesthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational,
and scientific value to the Nation and its people." Plant
life also exists in its native habitat for a reason which is
extremely complex. Trees, shrubs, flowers, and even weeds all
serve a purpose--from propagation due to the effort of certain
insects (pollination) which rely on the process for their survival,
to providing a rich food source for a variety of animals.
Many of Florida's plants have
proven to be key components in the development of new drugs and
foodstuffs. In fact, nearly 25% of all prescriptions in this
country are composed of chemicals found in naturally occurring
plant life and organisms. The consequences should a rare plant
be eradicated which may hold the key to curing an illness are
grim indeed.
Native plants propagate genetic
diversity in the ecosystem. This creates a healthy environment
for all organisms living in it, including humans. Foliage can
indicate environmental quality in response to certain conditions,
such as pollution, which may prove to be hazardous to humans,
thus proving to be an early detection system. Plants clean the
air as well as aid in preventing erosion, flooding, and other
natural disasters.
Indigenous plant life also supports
the economy. For instance, in many of Florida's parks, the native
flora and fauna takes center stage, attracting a large number
of tourists annually. And because ecotourism is becoming an increasingly
popular form of vacation, the state's rare species attract additional
visitors intent on helping to save the environment. This is a
win-win situation for all involved.
Although we cannot undo mistakes
made in the past which have caused many of Florida's native species
to be gone forever, we as citizens can help create a safe haven
for the current list of endangered and threatened plants. Not
only are the indigenous life forms of the state part of our American
heritage, but they could prove key in solving many medical, economic,
and ecological problems our country may face in the future.
RITMO!® FLORIDA LATIN TROPICAL THEME DESTINATIONS
Miami * Ft. Lauderdale * Boca Raton * West Palm Beach * Daytona Beach * Cocoa Beach * Boynton Beach * Key West
Orlando * Naples * Tampa Bay * Sarasota * Jacksonville * Melbourne * Coral Springs * Hollywood * St. Petersburg * Miami Beach
Sanibel * Marco Island * Deerfield Beach * Clearwater * Vero Beach * Jupiter * Stuart * Delray Beach * Ponte Vedra Beach
