I've been inspired by our hiking group1 finding a new plant species to look at how many new plant and animal species we have documented in Split Oak since the BioBlitz on May 4-6, 2018.
This summer-blooming wildflower in the Aster family was not vouchered2 in Osceola County and it had not been recorded in iNaturalist3, by FWC4 or in a herbarium5 as being present in Split Oak Forest.
BioBlitz
Danny Goodding, a PhD candidate at the University of Central Florida, planned and ran the entire event. Scheduling it in May meant that we could perhaps observe Spring wildflowers that were not observed by the FWC contractor that created the plant list, as they did their survey in the fall.
BioBlitz participants observed 303 species in Split Oak Forest, compared to the 400 species listed in the previously referenced FWC management plan.
The species count for Split Oak Forest on iNaturalist is currently at 548, only two months after the BioBlitz!
Including the species found during the BioBlitz, people visiting Split Oak Forest between May 4 and July 16, 2018 documented 88 new species, including 4 new endemic plant species, 44 new common plant species, 5 new species of animals, 34 new species of insect, and 2 new species of fungi/lichen
New Endemic Species of Plants
Phoebanthus grandiflorus Florida False Sunflower
Polygala rugelii Yellow Milkwort
Schoenocaulon dubium Florida Feathershank
Tephrosia rugelii Rugel's Hoarypea
New Common Species of Plants
Andropogon brachystachyus Shortspike Bluestem
Asclepias tuberosa rolfsii Rolf's Milkweed
Bromelia pinguin Piñuela
Carex longii Green-and-White Sedge
Centrosema virginianum Butterfly Pea
Coleataenia tenera Bluejoint Panicgrass
Crotalaria sagittalis Arrowhead Rattlebox
Croton michauxii Michaux's Croton
Eleocharis equisetoides Horsetail spikerush
Erigeron quercifolius Oakleaf Fleabane
Erigeron strigosus Prairie Fleabane
Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake master
Eupatorium mohrii Mohr's Thoroughwort
Eustachys petraea Pinewoods Fingergrass
Galactia regularis Downy milkpea
Helianthemum nashii Florida Scrub Frostweed
Hieracium megalocephalon Coastalplain Hawkweed
Hypericum crux-andreae St. Peter's Wort
Hypericum multilum Dwarf St. John's Wort
Hypoxis juncea Fringed Stargrass
Hypochaeris radicata Common Cat's Ear6
Ipomoea sagittata Saltmarsh Morning Glory7
Lactuca graminifolia Grass-Leaf Lettuce
Ludwigia maritima Seaside Primrosewillow
Mimosa quadrivalis floridana Florida Sensitive Briar
Paspalum setaceum Thin Paspalum
Physostegia virginiana Obedient Plant
Proserpinaca pectinata Combleaf Mermaidweed
Ptilimnium capillaceum Herbwilliam
Pluchea odorata Marsh Fleabane
Polygala cruciata cruciata Drumheads
Polygala nana Candyroot
Rhexia mariana Maryland Meadowbeauty
Rhynchospora megalocarpa Sandyfield Beaksedge
Rhynchospora microcephala Bunched Beaksedge
Rubus trivialis Southern Dewberry
Smilax auricularia Earleaf Greenbriar
Spiranthes praecox Grass-leaved Ladies' Tresses
Stipulicida setacea setacea Pineland Scalypink
Stylisma patens angustifolia Narrowleaf Coastalplain Dawnflower
Vernonia angustifolia Narrowleaf Tall Ironweed8
Woodwardia virginica Virginia Chainfern
Xyris caroliniana Carolina Yellow-eyed Grass
Yucca filamentosa Adams' Needle
New Common Species of Animals
Hyla gratiosa Barking Tree Frog
Nerodia fasciata Banded Water Snake
Plestiodon fasciatus Common Five-Lined Skink
Plestiodon laticeps Broadhead skink
Setophaga striata Blackpoll Warbler
New Common Species of Insects
Anisomorpha buprestoides Southern Two-Striped Walkingstick
Amblytropidia mysteca Brown Winter Grasshopper
Amblycorypha floridana Florida Oblong-winged Katydid
Augochlora pura Pure Green Augochlora
Bombus impatiens Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Camponotus socius Ant without a common name
Chalcophora georgiana Southern Sculptured Pine Borer
Chloridea virescens Tobacco Budworm Moth
Chlorotabanus crepuscularis
Colonus sylvanus Sylvan Jumping Spider
Dasymutila occidentalis Common Velvet Ant
Dermacentor variabilis American Dog Tick
Dolomedes triton Six-spotted Fishing Spider
Eriophora ravilla Tropical Orbweaver
Eurycotis floridana Florida Woods Cockroach
Florinda coccinea Black-tailed Sheetweaver
Harmonia axyridis Asian Lady Beetle
Ischnura hastata Citrine Forktail
Larinia director
Nathalis iole Dainty Sulphur by Nathalie Van Turnhout
Odontoxiphidium apterum Wingless Meadow Katydid
Omphalocera munroei Asimina Webworm Moth
Orphulella pelidna Spotted-winged Grasshopper
Pisaurina undulata Slender Nursery Web Spider
Psinidia fenestralis Longhorn Band-Wing Grasshopper
Poecilognathus unimaculatus Hairless Bee Fly
Polacantha gracilis
Proctacanthus fulviventris Spine-Tailed Robber Fly
Rabidosa punctuata Dotted Wolf Spider
Satyrium favonius favonius Southern Oak Hairstreak
Schistocerca alutacea Leather-colored Bird Grasshopper
Stichopogon abdominalis
Trioza magnoliae Red Bay Psyllid
Urola nivalis Snowy Urola Moth
New Species of Fungi and Lichen
Astraeus hygrometricus Hygroscopic Earthstar
Pycnoporus coccineus Southern Cinnamon Polypore
Missing Plant Species 9
Agalinis filifolia Seminole False Foxglove
Amphicarpum muhlenbergianum Blue Maidencane
Aristida palustris Longleaf Threeawn
Asimina angustifolia Slimleaf Pawpaw
Baccharis halimifolia Groundsel Tree
Bacopa caroliniana Carolina Water-Hyssop
Calopogon tuberosus tuberosus Tuberous Grass Pink
Centella asiatica Gotu Kola
Diodia virginiana Virginia Buttonweed
Epidendrum magnoliae Green Fly Orchid
Eulophia ecristata Giant Orchid
Eupatorium leptophyllum False Fennel
Hypolepis repens Creeping Bramble Fern
Ilex ambigua Carolina Holly
Ilex cassine Dahoon Holly
Ilex coriacea Large Gallberry
Juncus effusus solutus Eastern Soft Rush
Lachnocaulon beyrichianum Southern Bogbutton
Lechea torreyi Piedmont Pinweed
Liatris tenuifolia Shortleaf Blazing Star
Ludwigia repens Creeping Evening Primrose
Lycopodiella caroliniana Slender Club-Moss
Lycopus rubellus Water Horehound
Lyonia lygustrima foliosiflora Maleberry
Oldenlandia uniflora Clustered Mille Graines
Oplismenus hirtellus Woodsgrass
Opuntia stricta Shell Mound Pricklypear
Osmunda regalis spectabilis American Royal Fern
Oxypolis filiformis Water Cowbane
Palafoxia integrifolia Coastalplain Palafox
Panicum verrucosum Warty Panicgrass
Peltandra virginica Green Arrow Arum
Polygonella polygama October Flower
Quercus chapmanii Chapman's Oak
Quercus geminata Sand Live Oak
Quercus minima Dwarf Live Oak
Quercus nigra Water Oak
Rubus argutus Sawtooth Blackberry
Rhynchospora fascicularis Fascicled Beaksedge
Rhynchospora inundata Narrowfruit Horned Beaksedge
Sagittaria lancifolia Lanceleaf Arrowhead
Scoparia dulcis Licorice Weed
Setaria magna Giant Bristlegrass
Smilax pumila Sarsparilla vine
Syngonanthus flavidulus Yellow Hatpins
Tillandsia balbisiana Spreading Airplant
Tillandsia bartramii Bartram's Airplant
Tillandsia fasciculata Cardinal Airplant
Triadenum virginicum Virginia Marsh St. John's Wort
Typha latifolia Common Cattail
Vittaria lineata Shoestring Fern
Xyris fimbriata Fringed Yellow-eyed Grass
Missing Animal Species10
Acris gryllus dorsalis Florida Cricket Frog
Hyla squirella Squirrel Tree Frog
Kinosternon baurii Striped Mud Turtle
Pantherophis alleghaniensis Eastern Rat Snake
Plestiodon inexpectatus Southeastern Five-Lined Skink
Pseudacris ocularis Little Grass Frog
Pseudacris nigrita Southern Chorus Frog
Thamnophis saurita sackenii Peninsula Ribbon Snake
Missing Invasive Plant Species