Gumbo Limbo Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida
Gumbo Limbo Trail
Everglades National Park
The Gumbo Limbo Trail leaves from the Royal Palm Visitor's Center and loops through a dense jungle hammock of Gumbo Limbo Trees. Also called the 'tourist tree' due to its red flaky bark and underskin, the Gumbo Limbo is fast growing and quite tolerant to salt and calcareous soils. The two largest Gumbo Limbo Trees in America are located in Key West, Florida and Captiva Island, Florida respectively.
| Related Trails: | Gumbo Limbo Trail |
The Gumbo Limbo Trail leads through a hardwood hammock ecosystem lined with Gumbo Limbo Trees (seen here)
This Gumbo Limbo hammock is brimming with dense flora including large ferns, strangler fig trees and a variety of palms
The Strangler Fig Tree starts its life high in the jungle canopy perched on a host tree. Therefore it does not have to compete for sunlight. Instead, its roots descend toward the hammock floor often 'strangling' the host tree on its way and eventually taking over the host tree's place in the forest
A large solution hole along the Gumbo Limbo Trail. These natural fresh water depressions are caused by decaying plant acids which eat away at the limestone underground. Solution holes play a crucial role in sustaining life during the dry season, when water is scare and animals need it most
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