Airboat rides Florida – Discover endangered plant species

The Everglades often makes us think of alligators and wild birds, and in fact, the animals that inhabit it are often the focus of our curiosity. However, there is a lot more to it than just animals. For those creatures to live there, it also requires abundant plant life, and the Everglades has plenty of those. 

Furthermore, airboat rides Florida will expose you to many endangered plant species like its animal population. It is excellent news for all nature lovers that are looking to discover some unique and rare plants. Let’s take a look at some of those plants that are running in danger of becoming extinct.

The Manchineel tree

This tree resembles an apple tree, which is where its name originates. The word manchineel derives from the Spanish ‘manzanilla’, which means ‘little apple’. It is also called ‘beach apple’ due to its growth near the beaches in swamps and mangroves. In the US, the manchineel tree is native to Florida, as well as the Bahamas. Please don’t confuse this tree with an apple tree, as it contains potent toxins that can irritate the skin when being in contact with it.

The Florida thatch palm

This palm tree is also native to Florida and can be found mainly on sandy soil. You will find them more in the pinelands of South Florida. Florida thatch palm tends to be spread by animals such as deer, bats, and armadillos, to name but a few. We assume that such animals eat the seeds, carry them out with them, and as a consequence, they spread them around.

The Florida cherry palm

Also known as the ‘buccaneer palm’, you can find this tree in the Southeast of Florida. It is one of the critically endangered species. Its only remaining natural population in Florida is in Elliot Key, where less than 50 examples still exist. Conservation of this species is therefore primordial and the only way to keep this species alive and well in a natural setting in Florida.

The Key tree cactus

This plant is native to the Florida Keys but also to the Northern Bahamas and Western Cuba. It is a giant cactus that can grow relatively high, giving birth to many branches that extend parallel to one another. It can reach more than 30ft tall, so it’s not just your average small cactus! This species is also endangered, with residential development removing many cactus from their natural habitat. Storms and hurricanes haven’t been kind to this plant either, breaking and damaging them over the years.

Are Airboat Rides Florida safe for plants?

You might be wondering if our Florida airboat rides are safe for those endangered plants. Do airboats contribute to the disappearance of such delicate features of nature? The truth is that most endangered plants in Florida have gone this way due to housing, industrial development, weather, and the invasion of other non-native species.

Airboat rides Florida themselves are relatively harmless to the Florida ecosystem. We glide over the water and end up just flying over most plants, leaving them unharmed. We like to raise awareness of both animal and plant life in the Everglades. By doing so, we encourage people to discover more about Florida’s conservation programs and what we can do to save certain plants from becoming extinct.

Learn more about plant life with Airboat Rides Florida

The great thing about our airboat captains is that they are not only excellent pilots, but they also know a lot about the Everglades plant life and ecosystem. They will always teach you something new about the Everglades as they are very passionate. After all, our captains are natives from Florida. They care about its well-being, both past, future, and present.

If you’re taking a trip with us, you can always ask us as many questions about the Everglades plant life. We will always answer you to the best of our knowledge. Airboat rides Florida is the best way to discover some new and exciting plants. Always ask us if you’re interested in seeing specific plant species when you’re booking online. We will do our best to make it happen!