Island Trecker

Can I ask a favor of you? Please Share This Site With Others.

I created this site to provide free and relevant information for everyone about Mindanao and the Philippines so they too can discover The Beauty that is Mindanao and the Philippines

If you have a website, blog, Friendster, Myspace, Twitter, or Facebook profile, please add a link to this site - http://www.islandtrecker.com

Click above to Install latest Flash Player needed to view videos on this site

James Reports January 8, 2010

The Okeechobee Gourd

The Okeechobee Gourd - Click to see this very rare plant in flower

In late 2002 or 2003 I became involved with Wildlife Trust -- first as a volunteer then as a part time employee then finally full time. My job consisted of tracking sick and injured manatees around the state of Florida. My work carried me from Jacksonville (NE Fla) to Crystal River just below the Suwanee River on the west coast of Fla. south to the Everglades back to Key Largo in the northern Keys and back up the east coast to Jacksonville. Most of my 60 plus hours each week was spent on the water. During this time I had the oportunity to see one of the most endangered species of plants on earth--The Okeechobee Gourd. I have seen the plants thrive then almost disappear again. The gourd was declared extinct in the late 1800's and re-discovered in the 1940's -- Today there are a few plants on the south shore of Lake Okeechobee and also a few along the upper reaches of The St. John River. I am one of the few people that knows where to find the gourd growing wild along the banks of the river. I have seen them go to a high of about 22 plants to a low of only 7 plants. The cold weather this winter is likely to reduce the numbers again. The picture is an almost full grown gourd. Be sure to view this beautiful plant in flower.