Observation wells allow USGS scientists to perform groundwater monitoring and collect water data such as water levels, water quality and water flows. Alongside the Preserve's boardwalk, where soils were a bit drier, this morning glory was resting amid the ferns. This vine, which blooms year round, has trumpet-shaped flowers that may be white to pink in color and may be solitary or two to three in a cluster. The red berries of this dahoon holly stand out against the lush, green, swamp fern-dominated understory seen east of the path to the Fakahatchee boardwalk. Dahoon hollies are small trees that can grow to heights of 30 feet.
Female trees have fruits in the winter.
Fruits are a bright red, but can be orange or yellow. Many different songbirds like to eat these fruits. Lichens are made up of two symbiotic organisms, algae and fungus. The fungus collects water and provides the basic structure while the algae makes food via photosynthesis. The cypress trees that surround this swamp lake in Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve have shed their leaves for winter, while nearby the boardwalk end, flowers were seen in bloom.