Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park Florida Ecosystems Hike

On Sunday October 1, 2023 was a personal hike to Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in Pasco County, Florida. The park covers west of Pasco County of over 8,300 acres of land and border the Suncoast Trail. The trail is 7.3 miles long of one way to ride mountain bikes off road. The dry seasons for Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park are between the months of October to March. The park is jointly maintained the Southwest Florida Water Management District with the Pasco County Parks and Recreation. The personal hike lasted between 10 AM - 3 PM.

Photo 1. Overview of trees with mild cover.

Photo 2. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) as far as the eye can see.

Photo 3. Another angle of mild tree cover.

Photo 4. Part one of trees and shrubs found in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park.

Photo 5. Part two of trees and shrubs found in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park.

Photo 6. Part three of trees and shrubs found in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park.

Photo 7. Nature path for hikers to walk through.

The identified Jay B, Starkey Wilderness Park insects:

• Horned Passalus Beetle (Odontotaenius disjunctus)

The identified Jay B, Starkey Wilderness Park plants:

• Sand Pine (Pinus clausa)

• Velvet-leafed Wild Coffee (Psychotria tenuifolia)

• Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii)

• Longleaf Camphorweed (Pluchea longifolia)

• Spanish Needles (Bidens bipinnata)

• Dotted Knotweed (Persicaria punctata)

• Tall Elephant's-Foot (Elephantopus elatus)

• Musky Mint (Hyptis alata)

• Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

• Narrowleaf Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia)

• Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)

• Coastalplain Chaffhead (Carphenphorus corymbosus)

• American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

For other observations, Please visit iNaturalist.