Florida Airboat Rides
More than 2,000 plants exist in the Everglades. Just a small portion of them is spotted on Wild Florida airboat rides. The wide varieties of plants make up five distinctive habitats: hammock, mangrove, pineland, saw grass, and slough. Out of the different habitats, these are the most common plants that make up the Everglades we tour on an Orlando airboat ride:
The most well known plant in the Everglades is sawgrass. Forming thousands of acres of marshes, sawgrass grows up to nine feet and its sharp, coarse leaves mimic blades of a saw. Stems can grow so thick the flow of water is blocked and are one of the reasons we travel with airboats through the Everglades.
More than 100 species of water plants grow in the River of Grass. A few examples found passing by on an airboat ride are the bladderwort, butterfly pea plant, butterfly orchid, cattail plant, and the white water lily.
One of the most recognized trees on Florida airboat rides, the versatile cypress tree grows on either dry land or in water. Their “knees,” or the root system, grows out of the water and believed to be used for breathing.
The mangrove plays an important role in the survival of the Everglades. Their unique root system allows them to grow in salt water, acting similar to a filter. Red, black and white mangroves thrive in the Everglades and act as a natural buffer from wind and waves for the inland and help reduce soil erosion.
Check out our Florida airboat rides to see our unique Florida plants and wildlife! This exciting adventure is minutes away from Orlando, and we can guarantee that you will have the experience of a lifetime. Call Wild Florida at 407-901-2563 to book an airboat ride today!
