Feature Article - for release the week of October 19, 2008

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent

 Fly your NATIVE Flag

It’s getting close to Election Day, and many more Flags are appearing all over our area.  Actually, I’m not talking about Old Glory, that symbol of patriotism – even though there appear to be more numerous in our community. I’m referring to a native wetland plant with large leaves

Known as Fireflag or Alligator Flag, it is fairly common in local wetland areas pastures.  Recently I’ve noticed a few more are popping up in more urban areas in roadside swales.   An especially nice looking clump caught my eye recently, and suggests that this plant may have a use in making stormwater protection areas a little more attractive.   

Fireflag is a large emersed plant – it grows above the water level from a thick underground rhizome.  Almost all of these plants are naturally found in swamps and wet ditches from the Florida peninsula west to the central panhandle of Florida.  It  is also found throughout freshwater wetlands  the American tropics from Central America to Brazil in South America.

After the first frost, the large flat bright green leaves quickly turn into an even light shade of tan.  Then in the spring, when wetlands dry up and wildfires rage in open areas, the plant is subject to rapid destruction from grassland fires.  The ash remaining will serve as fertilizer and renourish the emerging plants in the spring.

Plant Description

Fireflag is a member of the Arrowroot family, and this is also a common name sometimes given for this plant.  Botanists call it Thalia geniculata.  Some references call it Alligator Flag, as it is a common plant found around gator holes.  

The large simple leaves on long stalks are among fire flag's most notable features.  The leaves are broadly lance-shaped, with broadly rounded bases. Inside the leaf stalks are lots of large air holes that help supply the plant with air and serve to keep it erect when water levels are high.  Leaves can be up to eight inches wide and more than 2 1/2 feet long. Several leaves grow together and are sheathed at the base.

Fire flag flowers are paired; that is, two flowering bracts emerge on top of a tall flower stalk. Multiple small purple to pink flowers hang from the bracts. Each individual flower will have three petals.

When I recently stopped by a roadside clump to take a closer look, I was able to see the small attractive purple to pink flowers emerging from a broad panicle.  It blooms from summer to fall, and seed will hang on the upright stick- like stalks through the winter.   This is a perennial plant that will emerge from thick underground rhizomes; occasionally the seed can find their way into moist areas and also serve to spread the plant.  

 

Management and Use

Cattle producers may consider this a plant weed, as it takes the place of other more nutritious forage plants.  Larger wildlife, including black bear, are known to consume this plant.  A review of nurseries that specialize in native habitat restoration plants shows that sometimes this plant can be purchased in containers.  At the UF North Florida Research Center, Fireflag was one of several plants that were added to a wetland demonstration project.  One UF entomologist found a chinch-bug like insect (I. variegates) on this plant, but no significant pests are known to be of concern when this is part of a water garden.

Given that many of our urban stormwater areas are often a boring mess of cattails and pepper trees, it would be interesting to see if this patriotic Native American has a place in our Florida Yards.

I’ve placed more information on our Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu. A good reference including a video of this pant can be found at: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/447.   If you need additional information on Fireflag, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons. Go Gators!

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Trade  names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean. Last update: 10/22/2008.  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert