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Gumbo Research Paper

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In the nature preserve we came across two types of ecosystems. The first ecosystem we encountered as we entered the preserve was the Tropical Hardwood Hammock. The Hammock includes the very interesting Gumbo Limbo (Bursera simaruba), along with the Caribbean Mahogany (Sweitenia mahoganii), and False Tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliqua). Three of the exotic species that live in the Hammock include the Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), Australian Pine (Casaurina equisetifolia), and Melaluca tree (Melaluca quinquenervia). The second ecosystem we encountered was the Pine Rocklands. In the Rocklands you can find the Coontie (Zamia pumila), Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto), and Saw Pametto (Serenoa repends), which are all native species. As for exotic species, often you …show more content…

Gumbo Limbo is an evergreen that bears fruit year round but is most ripe in the spring. The leaves are pretty small and round. Trees can grow up to 30 meters and are known to resist hurricane winds, making them good for protecting crops from the wind. Birds tend to eat the fruit it bears because it’s rich in lipids. Melaleuca tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) The Melaleuca tree is an invasive species in the Harwood Hammock. Also known as the Paper bark tree, because of its flaky paper-like bark, it can grow up to 20 meters tall. The leaves are dull gray or green but bloom into white or cream flowers in the spring. It is extremely invasive and takes up a lot of space in the everglades. Introduced in the early 1900s to Florida, from Australia, Melaleuca takes over sawgrass marshes making the areas a swamp and displacing the native species that would otherwise inhabit the areas around it. It does not have any natural predators in South Florida and other states where it grows, so it continues to grow and reproduce without

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