Overview
The Florida Brickell bush (Brickellia mosieri) is a light-yellow, perennial wildflower in the aster family that grows to more than 3 feet tall. It is found only in the pine rocklands of Miami-Dade County in Florida, where it occurs in small numbers even in high-quality habitat.
Threats
The primary threats to the Florida Brickell-bush are habitat destruction, fragmentation, and modification due to development, along with fire suppression, invasive plants, and sea level rise. Its habitat of pine rocklands is a globally designated imperiled ecosystem.
Scientific Name
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Characteristics
Habitat
This plant grows in pine rocklands with some sandy soil in open canopies that allow sunlight to reach it.
Physical Characteristics
The plant grows between 1 and 3.5 feet tall with flower heads in loose, open clusters at the end of branches. Flowers consist only of light yellow disk flowers. Leaves are thin, sometimes with small teeth, and contain small, amber-colored dots.
Life Cycle
The Florida Brickell-bush is likely a short-lived perennial, less than 10 years. Plants can resprout from underground, tuber-like reserves following fire.
Reproduction occurs through pollination during an annual flowering period between August and October, though the flowering period may be year-round. Flower morphology suggests this species may be pollinated by butterflies, bees, or both. Seeds are dispersed by wind. Plants generally show increased flowering after fire.
Similar Species
Several Aster species have similar leaves, but all have white ray flowers and yellow disk flowers. Palafox disk flowers are larger, tubular, and spread in loose heads with pink bracts.
Geography
The plant's range consists of pine rocklands on the Miami Rock Ridge outside Everglades National Park in central and southern Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Timeline
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