LIVE OAKS LIVE OAKS

FSU’s many sprawling, Spanish-moss cloaked live oak trees are indisputably the most memorable and beloved plants on campus. Live oaks can live for hundreds of years and grow to over 75 feet tall. With branches extending up to 100 feet, they are the broadest spreading oak species. I think we are all grateful for the plentiful shade they provided by their wide canopies!

In 2010, eight of FSU’s live oaks became part of the Leon County Patriarch Oak Program. All of the trees accepted into the program are at least 160 years old, meaning they have been here since before the first buildings of FSU were constructed. They are truly the most original part of FSU, and have played a huge role in shaping our beautiful campus. One of the most recognizable live oaks on campus is the Love Oak, standing in front of Strozier Library. It is named after James Pasco Love, who served as the FSU Farm and Dairy Operations manager from 1920 until 1958. Love raised his six children in a cottage beside the tree, five of whom went on to graduate from FSU!

ZAMIA ZAMIA IINTEGRIFOLIA NTEGRIFOLIA

Ever noticed what looks like giant bright orange corn kernels on the ground? These are actually the seeds of Zamia integrifolia, or the Coontie palm, a low-growing cycad native to the Southeastern US. Cycads have existed for 300 million years, and were particularly abundant during the Jurassic era. That means a T-Rex might have noticed those same bright orange corn kernels! But hopefully neither you or the T-Rex ate them, because the Coontie palm contains a toxin called cycasin which can cause liver failure.

However, Indigenous tribes like the Seminole would grind the roots, soak them overnight, and then rinse them for several hours, dissolving the toxin. The resulting paste would be fermented and dried, creating a powder which could be used to make a “bread-like substance.”

Disclaimer: Please do not try this at home. You can safely obtain a bread-like substance at FSU’s convenient oncampus Panera.