A Tropical Fern Grotto in Broward County, Florida

Abstract

John K. Small (1931, p. 1) once wrote that Florida should be known as the land of ferns. Several areas throughout the state have become famous for their abundance of these plants. Most notable are the rocklands of Dade County (Small, 1920a, b), the Pineola Grotto of Citrus County (Harper, 1916; Lakela, 1964), and the lakes region of Central Florida (Small, 1932, p. 15; Wherry, 1964, p. 28; Lakela & Long, 1976, e. g., p. 123). No one has even suspected until recently (Nauman, 1978) that Broward County boasted ferneries. Few even believe that a site remains unreported that contains the most impressive display of ferns in the southern end of the state. The site we hereby record is located in Sects. 5,6, T49S, R42E (Fig. 1) and contains almost half of the pteridophyte species known in tropical Florida. Furthermore, it appears to have the largest and healthiest populations in the state of some of the rarer species. We call the site the Creek because it represents a remnant of the Cypress Creek drainage system (Steinberg, 1976). Vegetation in the area is complex, with swamp forest, hammocks, pinelands, and fallow fields. A limestone outcrop of undetermined affinity (J. E. Hoffmeister, 1978, pers. comm.) forms a ridge on the western limit and islands near the eastern side. This broken ridge system was dissected by Cypress Creek before the area was drained by canals, and the central swamp is overlain with various depths of peat and sand. We have been studying the site since September 1976. During that time, we have discovered that it contains over 200 species of plants, and the list grows with each visit. Not only is the site the last remaining stronghold of ferns in southeastern Florida, but it contains range extensions for several plants (e.g. Asplenium trichomanes-dentatum, Catopsis floribunda, Polypodium ptilodon, Tectaria heracleifolia, Tectaria incisa, Tillandsia valenzuelana), and several species on the Smithsonian and Florida Committee Rare and Endangered Plant lists (e.g. Asplenium trichomanes-dentatum, Asplenium serratum, Epidendrum nocturnum, Ophioglossum palmatum, Tillandisa flexuosa). Cypress Creek Hammock is unique in several ways: in its number of ferns, for its range extensions, and for existing as an island of native vegetation in metropolitan Broward County. We believe that any one of these factors makes the site worthy of preservation, and that their combination makes it imperative. Some of our colleagues have been helpful toward this end by writing letters. We solicit letters or support in other ways from all those interested in ferns, plants, and native Florida habitats.