Jacquemontia reclinata is a member of the morning glory family (Convolvulaccae) that is restricted to the southeastern coast of Florida. The primary habitats for this species are beach coastal strand and maritime hammock.
Jacquemontia is a perennial vine which has a main stem with numerous laterals spreading out from a stout rootstock. Flowers are white to light pink and the sepals are persistent. The fruit is a light brown. The plant requires open areas like those found behind stable sand dunes. They are a species of vine, and one plant can have several green shoots (called laterals) that spread out from the plant’s main stem.
For most of the year, Beach Jacquemontia looks fairly unremarkable. However, between the months of November and May, the vine’s beautiful white-pink flowers begin to bloom. Beach Jacquemontia is a perennial plant, which means that each year, the plant’s flowers only bloom for a short period of time. However, Beach Jacquemontia survives to bloom again the next year – annual plants usually bloom for longer, but only survive for one year before dying.
Beach Jacquemontia is the rarest plant found at the park: It is federally listed as endangered, as a large portion of its barrier island habitat has been destroyed by development. No more than 1000 individual plants of the species remain today. These plants represent both the beauty and fragility of nature, and our own role in determining the future of the Real Florida™.
