Redbay or Persea borbonia ranges from Florida to Delaware
and grows in coastal lowlands and interior swamps. Redbays tolerate
droughts easily and prefer to grow in sandy acid soil but adapts
well to other soil types. It is actually related to the avocado
tree. They can grow to forty feet in height and prefer being in the
sun or in partial shade. When they bloom, once a year in the
spring, they produce small clustered whitish flowers. And their
fruit is actually about a half an inch in size, blue-black in color
and grows on the end of a red stem. The easiest way to identify
this plant is through the leaves. They often appeared chewed
because of the insects they attract. The leaves have a fragrant
smell and are oblong. The leaves are 2-4 inches long and pointy
with a whitish underside. They are “often infected with
prominent black or brown nipple galls.”
This geocache is
placed in Highlands Hammock State Park with the permission of park
management. All locations must be approved by the Volunteer
Geocache Coordinator Sarah Straub (DTISarah@gmail.com) and adhere
to the guidelines set by the park for geocache
placement.
Vehicles are not
permitted to park on any roadway within the park boundary. All
vehicles must park within designated parking areas. The park is
open from 8:00AM until sundown, 365 days a year. The admission fees
are as follows: $6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle. $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra
passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual
Entrance Pass. Camping is available in the park as well.
Highlands
Hammock State Park's Website
For more
information about accessing cache locations please visit the ranger
station to view a copy of Essential Eligibility Criteria for
Geocaching at Highlands Hammock State Park.
Please remember
to cache responsibly and stay on designated trails.