Tea-blinkum, Sanddune cinchweed
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Pectis glaucescens
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Asteraceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower and rock gardens. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries. |
Description: |
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Small wildflower with narrow blue-green leaves. |
Height: |
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About 1-4 inches in height. Spreading and forming small patches broader than tall. |
Growth Rate: |
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Fast. |
Range: |
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Monroe County Keys north to Martin, Glades and Sarasota counties, then disjunct to Brevard, Polk and Hillsborough counties, where very rare; West Indies. |
Habitats: |
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Pinelands and dry disturbed sites. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Yellow. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy heads. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year; peak summer-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous achene. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. |
Comments: |
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It can be a little weedy. The leaves have a lemonlike smell when crushed. |
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Jimi Sadle, 2014 Everglades National Park, Florida
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