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Long spurred Mint/ Longspurred Balm
Dicerandra cornutissima
29.0699, -82.1909
Field Notes
Description:
A gorgeous woody mint endemic to Florida. Found only in 13-15 known locations, all in Marion County.
Copying from Wikipedia: This is a strong-scented aromatic shrub growing up to about half a meter tall. The erect stems grow from a woody base. The oppositely arranged leaves are linear in shape, 1.5 centimeters long, smooth-edged, and dotted with visible oil glands. The flower has a corolla just under a centimeter long with a bent, tubular throat and lobed lips. The corolla is dark pink or purplish with purple spotting and a paler throat. The anthers have hornlike spurs, which, at over a millimeter long, are relatively large.
Habitat:
Found in scrub and Sandhill habitats.
Notes:
DO NOT USE MY PHOTO WITHOUT CONTACTING ME FIRST! YOU MUST CREDIT ME AS PHOTOGRAPHER. This is an extremely rare plant, listed federally as "critically imperiled".
This clump is in a new neighborhood carved out of scrub, and I fear this plot of land may be next to go. There are apparently no federal restrictions regarding endangered plant species found on private lands. They are not protected. (Which makes me wonder about the validity of a listing in the first place....)
- a few days later: October 1 ---
I returned with a real camera, and counted at least 41 individual plants! I got a video too as proof... I will try to upload it.
As I photographed, a neighborhood resident, much concerned about what I was doing, asked if I was testing the soil. I told her I was documenting this extremely rare plant that grows ONLY in Marion County, etc. Her eyes got as big as saucers, and she came over to see. She sad "Oh I see these all the time here!" I replied "Then it's worth saving, isn't it?! Tell your neighbors about how amazing this little spot is, and keep it from being developed!" She said "Oh... they don't care about plants like I do. They won't listen." And that was the end of the conversation. Maybe she'll think on it after all. #Hoping....
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