Kurt Reinhart

Here are some pictures of Florida springs that John Parker took and agreed to share (http://www.serc.si.edu/labs/terrestr...ogy/index.jsp). I think they are from Itchetucknee Springs. Thanks.


See the grasses (Vallisneria or Sagittaria)?




At first glance, I loved this picture. John thought the plants were Vallisneria (?), red ludwigia, and chara. Do you think it (dark green plant to right) is chara or something else???

I had not heard of chara before... It is actually an algae (it is described at the ufl link for aquatic plants of Florida). Often grasses (Vallisneria or Sagittaria) dominate these springs. Whatever it is, it looks like it is crowding out the other species. Overall, I find them inspiring and hope you do too.


Here are some great spring sites and information.

General information on springs with photos and names of some typical plants
http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/guide/springs.html#sprlife

http://www.floridasprings.org/anatomy/life/plants/

Link lists aquatic plants of Florida
http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/photos.html#v

This link even has a movie clip from “The hidden rivers of Florida”
http://www.floridasprings.org/exploration/film/

goalcreas

Great photo's.
Good sites also.
Thanks for sharing

Church

I love canoeing down that river!!! That reminds me.. it's manatee season again. Time for another canoe trip! Thanks for reminding me how beautiful Florida is when you go just a bit inland!

orlando

I live 30 min. from there. Im going soon..

Kurt Reinhart

Church & Orlando- Take some pics and add them to the thread.

I have some old photos from a disposable underwater camera that I'm trying to find and may scan if any are worth contributing. Kurt

Church

^ I will do that. And in honor of the moment, here is a photo of one of my favorite spots along the Chassahowitska river, not very far from the Itchetucknee...


And how about a shot of a mommy and baby manatee?


I am taking my girlfriend to the Itchetucknee probably in a week or two. I just showed her this thread, and now I'm not the only one who's excited. We will take an underwater camera, for sure.

This thread makes me smile. I live in such a beautiful place!

Cliff Mayes

I had a hunch that there were some beautiful and interesting places in Florida but all I have ever seen was the tacky commercial stuff. These photos make me want to go there.

Thank you.

Kurt Reinhart

I can't wait to see more photos of FL springs, plants, animals, rockscapes, etc.!

I've been digging around trying to figure out what plants are found in FL springs. The Rainbow Springs has the following:

Natives
Sagittaria kurziana (~56%)- strap-leaf sagittaria [dominated upper 2/3s of river]
Vallisneria americana (~24%)- eelgrass
Najas guadalupensis (~13%)
Potamogeton illinoensis (1.3%) primarily in headsprings area
Ceratophyllum demersum (19%)
Ludwigia repens (~0.6%) primarily in headsprings area
Myriophyllum sp. (~0.1%) primarily in headsprings area (some of these species are non-natives)
Chara sp. (~7.7%)
Utricularia sp. (~2.2%) primarily in headsprings area

Non-native
Hydrilla verticullata (~37%) dominated downstream portion, consider invasive problem

Nasturitium sp. (~0.04%) primarily in headsprings area, not sure if this is native or not

This information is from "Florida Department of Environmental Protection 2000. Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve 2000 vegetation mapping project: an assessment of the plant assemblages. Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve, Dunnellon, FL." I've been to this spring. It is really nice but can be really busy.

Silver Glen Spring likely has similar composition dominated by Sagittaria and Vallisneria.

Sagittaria kurziana is widely listed as a dominant of the springs but doesn't seem listed by this name by aquatic plant dealers. I've inquired with Arizona Aquatic Gardens but haven't heard back from them yet. I did come across this listing for it which makes me think it might be listed as either Sagittaria natans or Sag. subulata (do either of these sound right?)

"Sagittaria subulata var. kurziana (GLUCK) BOGIN, 1955
Synonyms: S. kurziana, S subulata var. natans.
Natural Distribution & Ecology: North America.
Physical Description: Leaves 12-20 long, to 2/3" wide, with three longitudinal veins; the central one alone ending at the tip, laterals terminating along the leaf margin."
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PlantedTk...sagittaria.htm

PLANT^NUT

I live in Alabama. I'm definetley considering throwing the kayak on the truck and heading down. Thanks for posting.

Cavan Allen

Very nice. Thanks for showing us.

Is it safe to go snorkeling there? We don't have any large aquatic reptiles up here....