Research in the Crosstimbers of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Osage County, Oklahoma
Native Plant Paradise Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
5
Native Plant Paradise Page 1 This is land made famous in Patrick Smith’s novel “A Land Remembered.” This is old Florida much as it looked when native Americans lived and hunted here. Eighty-four square miles of dry prairie, wet prairie, cabbage palm and live oak hammocks, sloughs, depression marshes, flood plain and much more are found at KPPSP. This landscape became part of our Florida State Park system in 1998 and much effort has gone into restoration efforts to return it from ranch land back to native prairie. Ditches have been plugged and fire introduced on a natural cycle. In response prairie grasses and wildflowers returned in profusion. It has 14 distinct natural communities in addition to ruderal and developed areas of the park according to Florida Natural Areas Inventory. Dry prairie, once found extensively in Florida, has been greatly reduced. Few areas remain and the park has 20,000 acres of this imperiled habitat. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Transcript of Native Plant Paradise Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Native Plant Paradise
Page 1
This is land made famous in
Patrick Smith’s novel “A Land
Remembered.” This is old Florida
much as it looked when native
Americans lived and hunted here.
Eighty-four square miles of dry
prairie, wet prairie, cabbage palm
and live oak hammocks, sloughs,
depression marshes, flood plain
and much more are found at KPPSP.
This landscape became part of
our Florida State Park system in 1998
and much effort has gone into
restoration efforts to return it from
ranch land back to native prairie.
Ditches have been plugged and fire
introduced on a natural cycle. In
response prairie grasses and
wildflowers returned in profusion. It
has 14 distinct natural communities
in addition to ruderal and developed
areas of the park according to
Florida Natural Areas Inventory. Dry
prairie, once found extensively in
Florida, has been greatly reduced.
Few areas remain and the park has
20,000 acres of this imperiled
habitat.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
Native Plant Paradise
Page 2
Praesent integer leo orci aliquam, nibh a. Diam
nobis eget, erat natoque integer fringilla viverra.
Fermentum pede fringilla urna semper,
pede quam scelerisque et enim in commodo, dictum
a consequatur
According to the KPPSP Unit Management Plan Advisory Group Review
Draft in December 2004, under Special Natural Features, “The large expanse of
this property makes it a special natural feature. The preserve is one of only a
handful of rare jewels in the State where natural processes may still function. The
property offers the rare opportunity for the public to experience a part of Florida
that has largely disappeared. The preserve is truly one of the last outstanding
natural areas in Florida, and it offers the chance of a truly wilderness experience
in a landscape which is virtually gone from Florida.”
http://www.floridastateparks.org/kissimmeeprairie/default.cfm Once the link
comes up choose Park Menu and explore KPPSP especially the Natural
Resources, Park History and Park Summary Page. You can download a Trail
Map, Bird and Butterfly Checklists.
Native Plant Paradise
Page 3
Through the seasons at KPPSP
Many-flowered Grass-Pink
Calopogon multiflorus
Water-spider OrchidHabenaria repens
ThistleCirsium horridulum
MilkweedAsclepias lanceolata
DrumheadsPolygala cruciata
Lopsided IndiangrassSorghastrum secunrum
Blazing StarLiatris species
Toothache GrassCtenium aromaticum
Osceola’s PlumeZigadenus densus
Native Plant Paradise
Page 4
There is always beauty to be
seen at KPPSP.
Native Plant Paradise
Page 5
If you think this is a state park worth saving from budget cuts this is what you can do. Contact
Governor Charlie Crist at [email protected] and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp at
[email protected]; Mike Bullock, Director of Florida Park Service at
[email protected]; Bob Ballard, Deputy Secretary of Florida Park Service at
[email protected] and urge them to reconsider their decision to close KPPSP. Unless they
know people love and value this park we will lose one of the most diverse parks in Florida.
Points to consider: KPPSP protects the largest remaining tract of Florida Dry Prairie, an ecosystem
limited to central Florida. The dry prairie is of exceptional natural quality. There are 14 distinct natural
communities. These communities cannot be maintained without prescribed burns. It contains portions of
the original domains of the state and conserves these natural values. Too much money and effort have
gone into restoration to allow KPPSP to be closed. There are 13 designated species of plants, listed either
by FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services), USFWS (U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service), and FNAI (Florida Natural Areas Inventory) as Threatened, Endangered, Critically Imperiled and
Imperiled in Florida. There are 9 species of birds listed as Endangered or Threatened. There are 4 species
of butterflies listed by FNAI as Critically Imperiled or Imperiled in Florida. Unless government officials know
people love and value this park we will lose one of the most diverse parks in Florida. If it is closed and
maintained with only a caretaker then all the money and efforts in restoration will be for nothing.
This was written by Linda F. and Byrum W. Cooper, Haines City, FL. Email: [email protected]. All
photos by Linda F. Cooper were taken at KPPSP. This PDF may be distributed to anyone interested in
saving this state park from closure. Prepared November 1, 2008
