Discovering Indian Mound Trail

The Indian Mound Trail

It was a beautiful day to explore another one of TGO’s trail, so we grabbed Betty Salter and Karri Conover and headed out for the Indian Mound Trail. The trailhead is located at the southeast corner of the nature center trail. We entered the trail on a fi rebreak that separates a slightly elevated hammock from the marsh. We followed the fi rebreak until we found the double red rectangular blazes on a palm tree and then followed those into the hammock. The rectangular blazes denote the main trail and this is important because the trail has two spurs, which are marked by red diamonds. After we entered the hammock, Betty pointed out a palm with two 90-degree angles. The tree had fallen, but its root ball was intact and it continued to live. The fi rst 90-dgree turn occurred as the tree worked around an obstacle and the second happened as the tree starting reaching for the sunlight. This may be one of the oldest living trees in the area. We came across many varieties of plants on the trail, including Coreopsis, which is Florida’s state fl ower, Milkweed, Mock Bishopsweed, Giant Leather Fern, Orange Milkwort, Butterfl y Orchids, Starrush, Soda Apple (looks like tomatoes with super spiny leaves and stalks), Climbing Dayfl ower, Prairie False Foxglove, and Saltmarsh Sabatia. We used the ‘Picture This’ app to confi rm the names of the fl owers. In the heart of the mound we found the Simpson Stopper tree. The leaves from these trees have been used by the indigenous people as a cure for diarrhea. When the Spaniards landed in Florida, they were suff ering from this ailment and the Indians helped cure them by using a tea from the Stopper tree. This variety of Stopper tree was named for Charles Torrey Simpson, a botanist and conservationist. We also came across a small grove of Papaya trees that are fruit bearing during the summer and fall. About a half mile into the walk, we headed south out of the hammock on a small trail, and into the wide open marsh area of the St. Johns River Water Management area. Although this is not a true Indian Mound, archeologists have determined that this area was probably a seasonal campsite for hunters and gathers. The Indian Mound Trail crosses two other trails, the Pisarz and the Karen Earley. The Pisarz Trail is marked with white blazes and the Karen Earley Trail is marked with yellow blazes. We will walk these trails in the future. The entire loop is about a mile long. There are lots of differnt plants and plenty of small butterfl ies that are fun to try and identify. Indian Mound Trail is an easy to moderate trail which may be walked year-round. There are muddy areas, however, after a heavy rain. The day we went there were lots of mosquitos, so bug spray would be a good idea. Sunscreen is also a good idea.

Butterfl y Orchid

Yaupon Holly

The only naturally occurring caff eine tree in North America, Ilex vomitoria, Yaupon Holly can be found on some of our trails in TGO. Yaupon can be found from coastal North Carolina south and west to Texas. It is a coastal plant that likes sandy soils. Yaupon Tea, also known as cassina, cacina, or black drink, has been consumed on this continent since long before Europeans arrived here. Yaupon Tea Recipe - Ingredients • 1 to 1.5 teaspoons yaupon leaves, fresh, dried, parched or roasted (or one Yaupon tea bag) plus 1 cup water Instructions • Boil water and pour into a cup with loose yaupon leaves, tea ball, or tea bag. • Let steep for fi ve to ten minutes and remove the tea ball or strain out the leaves. Notes Use fresh or dried yaupon leaves for a tea that tastes more like green tea or use parched or roasted leaves for a smokier tea that tastes more like yerba maté. WARNING: The red berries of the yaupon holly are poisonous!