Plants of the Big Thicket National Preserve Quiz

Answer: These are all found in the Arid Sandylands unit of the preserve

Although southeast Texas, with its heavy rainfall and thick forest, is the last place you'd expect to see desert plants, the Arid Sandylands, one of 10 ecosystems in the Big Thicket, provides the perfect habitat. Since the last ice age, tremendous amounts of sand have been deposited here. Because of excellent drainage and the hot Texas sun, this area has a dry, sandy topsoil just right for these plants.

The other ecosystems in the preserve have their own unique environments which support plant life that can vary greatly from that in the Arid Sandylands.

Answer: Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)

There are 4 types of carnivorous plants that thrive in the Big Thicket. These plants survive by trapping unsuspecting insects. Each has its own unique method for accomplishing this task. The National Park Service has created two trails, the Sundew Trail and the Pitcher Plant Trail, which lead visitors to the places they are most likely to see the respective plants.

Answer: Pitcher plant (Sarracenia alata)

The pitcher plant is easily identified by its long vessel, which resembles a pitcher. Once prey is lured into the tube, downward curving hairs make it very hard for prey to climb out. Digestive juices soon begin to dissolve the insects, leaving only their "skeleton" or "bones." The plant uses the nitrogen found in the insects.

The carnivorous plants do not survive solely on insects, but also carry out photosynthesis. Sundews and butterworts have flat leaves that lie on the ground. These leaves produce sweet sticky nectar which lures insects. Once the prey is trapped in the sticky nectar, the leaves begin to digest the prey. Bladderworts sit on the surface of water (usually a pond of some sort). Below are traps which dangle in the water, waiting for an insect to swim by and activate one of their hair triggers.

The bug is quickly sucked into the trap where digestive juices go right to work.

Answer: Orchid (Various spp.)

Many visitors come each year to see more than 20 species of orchids which grow wild in the thicket. Most of these bloom in the spring but a few species bloom in the fall. Carnations and tulips do not grow well in the Big Thicket and sundews are a type of carnivorous plant.

Answer: Blackjack oak

In addition to the features mentioned above, the blackjack oak has a rough, dark bark, and is a dominant species in the Arid Sandylands section of the preserve. The overcup oak has brownish gray bark, leaves which are light and dark shades of green, and a preference for swampy bottomland.

It is a dominant tree in the Palmetto-Hardwood and Oak-Gum Floodplain ecosystems of the preserve. The southern magnolia also prefers moist soil and has brownish gray bark, but it has thick, dark green, leathery leaves, and produces large white flowers.

It produces an egg shaped fruit with seeds on its surface and is dominant in the Beech-Magnolia-Loblolly ecosystem. The American beech tree prefers moist bottomland, has a light gray, mottled bark, and very bright green leaves which turn darker in the summer.

It is a dominant species of the Beech-Magnolia-Loblolly section of the preserve.

Answer: Palmetto trees (Sabal spp.)

The palmettos are one of my favorite botanical features of the Big Thicket because I believe they impart a lush, tropical feel wherever they are found. Usually standing 4 to 6 feet tall, the trees have large bright green fan shaped fronds. The palmettos grow along with a number of large hardwood trees to form the Palmetto-Hardwood ecosystem of the preserve. Devil's walking sticks are small trees which may look like shrubs and are native to the Big Thicket.

They, along with sycamore trees, have leaves, not fronds, and Loblolly pines have long green needles.

Answer: Orchids (Various spp.)

Many visitors come each year just to see the orchids in the preserve. The majority of the orchids bloom in the spring but a few bloom in the fall. Most of the blooms are a bit smaller than those seen in florist shops, but the colors are bright and in my opinion they are exquisitely beautiful.

Some orchid types found here include the Calopogon, coral root, yellow-fringed, southern tway blade, fragrant ladies' tresses, cripple crane-fly, snowy, and rose pogonia. Tulips do not grow wild in the preserve and are difficult to grow in this area of southeast Texas at all. Begonias are a pot plant and don't grow wild here. Asters do grow wild in the preserve, but so far only 6 species have been found.

Answer: Beech-Magnolia-Loblolly ecosystem

Some ecologists believe that this unit of the preserve represents the way plant life ultimately develops when the land is left undisturbed for several hundred years. Beech, magnolia, and loblolly pine trees emerge as the dominant species, and virtually eliminate all other trees.

This produces an open forest floor with a cathedral like "roof" provided by the trees. Hoary azaleas and a few herbaceous plants thrive on the open floor. Things remain in this state until lightening strikes, burning everything to the ground, and the entire cycle of forest production begins all over. Nature writer Howard Peacock describes this ecosystem as "classic sylvan beauty," and I heartily agree.

The other three ecosystems in the answer all exist in the preserve, but are not touted as climactic natural forests.

Answer: Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)

The bald cypress trees here grow to over 130 feet in height and are found mainly in the cypress slough ecosystem. They have light green leaves which turn rust color in the fall. The knee shaped projections, which I think really do look like knees, only form when the trees grow in their preferred mud environment.

When on dry ground, the knees do not develop. No one knows for certain what the knees' purpose is, but theories suggest they may help stabilize the trees in mud, or help oxygenate the roots.

The other trees all grow in the Big Thicket but prefer a drier, sandier soil.

Answer: Finger dogshade

Finger dogshade is considered a wetland herb. It is in the same order as ginseng, though I found no documentation of it having any similar uses. All the uniquely named plants listed in the answer grow in the Turkey Creek Unit of the preserve. Nearly 500 other species of herbs can also be found in this unit. The Big Thicket National Preserve is located in and around the town where I have lived most of my life and I have truly enjoyed all the wonderful plant life.
I used the following two sources for this quiz:

"Nature Lover's Guide to the Big Thicket" by Howard Peacock
Big Thicket National Preserve website http://www.nps.gov/bith/