Florida Snow Races North

Richardia grandiflora or Florida Snow in Florida
is also known as Largeflower Mexican Clover

An invasive flower sometimes referred to as "Florida Snow" is blooming again this year along road medians, shoulders and in yards throughout Central and South Florida.  Because the plant blooms better in drier weather it is very prevalent now as we've had almost 2 months with virtually no rainfall post Hurricane-Irma.

Follow Phillip

@majikphil

The fast growing blizzard has started to cover grassy strips in large patches throughout Florida as the plant races north up the peninsula.  Large numbers of the plants are now seen blooming as far north as Volusia County on the east coast, Ocala National Forest on the Central Peninsula, and Spring Hill on the west coast.

Impossible to control because of its tiny seeds it is best to admire this invasive species for its ability to thrive where just about everything else is wilted and brown.

The first three images posted here were taken in the most unlikely of places, a swale between two seaside dunes in New Smyrna Beach, where nothing else except the toughest sand oaks, saw palmettos, and other tough native dune plants thrive and most species barely survive, this Richardia grandiflora is covering the dunes.

Colloquially the flower goes by many names.  Horticulturists call it "Largeflower Pusley."  Others refer to it as "Rough Mexican Clover," a misleading term because the plant is not from Mexico and is not a clover.

The herb's botanical name is Richardia grandiflora.  The plant is native to Brazil and elsewhere in South America.

It's uncertain when exactly it got to Florida, but the perennial weed now infests at least 40 counties along the central and southern Florida peninsula.

The plant resembles a Florida native, Richardia scabra, or "Mexican Clover" which is found as far north as Indiana, west to Texas and up the east coast to New Jersey.  R. scarba's blooms are much smaller, whiter and less noticeable.

Above, the native and less shows Richardia scabra in extreme close-up.  The flowers are maybe a 10th the size of the South American interloper.

Although often considered a nuisance on yards and pastures, the flower's spread has its upsides. Pusley provides a low-maintenance, drought- and cold-tolerant cohabitant with turf grass to help keep soil erosion in check. And it provides nectar for butterflies and bees, important pollinators.  On the flip side it is obviously crowding out native species as evidenced by its proliferation.

Largeflower pusley is closely related to several tropical plants such as ixora, gardenia, penta firebush and wild coffee, according to a 2011 report about the plant by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Endangered Mint Only Grows in Brevard on ridge from Titusville to Mims (Dicerandra thinicola — aka Titusville balm or Titusville mint)

This pusley blanketing Florida belongs to a family of plants that includes three very common, look-alike weeds, distinguished by different-sized flowers and the texture of the leaves.

The flowers grow so low to the ground that mower blades often miss them. Cutting lawns low enough to get the pusley would damage and stress the grass.

The weed can live year-round and tolerate temperatures as low as 10° (-12.2° C).

While grass around it wilts during drought, the pusley perseveres.

The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council lists the plant as Category II, among the state's most invasive species. Category I are species disrupting native plants and causing ecological damage. Category II are invasive plants that show potential to disrupt native plants but haven't yet to a significant extent.  We suspect Florida Snow will be moving up the list as soon as the Council notices the extent of its spread northward.

Some of the best images of Florida snow can be found at Pam and Richard Winegar's Naturetime Blog 

(photos above and below by Pam and Richard Winegar)

We're Following

Having performed mind-bending athletic feats practically since birth.  Falcons receiver Julio Jones has become a legend in his own time.  Do you believe in superheroes?

Outtakes from SI's Cover Shoot with Julio Jones

Happy Thanksgiving

On Survivor Season 35 its Devon v. Cole for Hunk-of-the-Year

Devon far left, Cole 2nd from right

This season its 23-year-old Surf Instructor, Devon Pinto @devonthedoo v. 24-year-old Wilderness Therapy Guide, Cole Medders @cole_medders for best looking survivor man.

For personality, smile, and all that yoga Devon wins hands down. Eyes, its a tie. Body? Cole if you like brawn, Devon if you like lean surfer dude. Who’ll look best at 50? Definitely Devon. His looks will stand the test of time. So for personality and sustainability, we say Devon’s a lock for hottest Survivor Season 35 Hunk.

Cole looked great in early episodes, but, for eating with his hands, complaining about not getting his 8,000 calories a day diet, and general stupidity (telling everybody's secrets) we lost interest quickly.

At this writing we still don't know who will win Season 35.  Amazingly both Cole and Devon are still in the running.  Normally the strongest are voted off first.