Native Plants of Little Cypress Creek Preserve

Native Plants of Little Cypress Creek Preserve 1. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) Sweetgum is common throughout the Houston region. It was named for its sweet inner bark, which settlers often chewed like gum. Though not an oak, sweetgum is often called the "Texas Star Oak" because of its star-like leaves. 5. Dwarf Sundew (Drosera brevifolia) A carnivorous plant, dwarf sundew traps and digests insects with a sticky enzyme on the surface of their leaves. Look for sundew in exposed patches of sand in early spring. 6. Floating Bladderwort (Utricularia radiata) This carnivorous plant floats on modified leaves known as "bladders." These bladders are full of small air-filled sacs and hair-like triggers. Small aquatic organisms that brush against these triggers are promptly drawn into these sacs and digested. 2. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) Eastern redbud is a small tree reaching heights of approximately 30 feet. Look for their bright pink blooms in the early spring, before other trees have begun to leaf out. 7. Red Maple (Acer rubrum) 3. Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) Though we often think of plants taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis, they also must take in oxygen through their roots. This can be difficult if your roots are underwater, as with the bald cypress. This is why cypress "knees" are often seen near the base of the trees. Think of them as straws that raise above the water to allow for oxygen intake. The red maple can be identified by its leaves which are dark green above, silvery below, and have 3 distinct lobes. The tree is named for its bright red petiole, the structure connecting the leaf to the branch. In the fall the brilliant deep red leaves add drops of color to the forest. 4. River Birch (Betula nigra) 8. Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) River birch is easily identified by its flaky, paper-like bark. Growing to 80', they thrive along the banks of Little Cypress Creek, with some of the most beautiful specimens along this waterway. The state flower of Texas, the bluebonnet is a member of the pea family. Look for them blooming from March - May in the preserve's clearings. LO