The Arboretum of the University of Central Florida is located on the main campus of the University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...

 in Orlando, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...

, USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. Covering 80 acres (323,748.8 m²), it contains more than 600 species of plants, including more than 100 bromeliads, in cultivated gardens.

Due to the hurricanes of 2005, the Arboretum is receiving a major restructuring that will lead to new collections arranged by geographical area. The new design also entails picnic tables, running trails, and a disc golf course.

History

Established by President Trevor Colbourn in 1983, The Arboretum began with approximately 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) of a disturbed pond pine

Pond Pine

Pinus serotina is a tree found along the Atlantic coastal plain of the eastern United States, from southern New Jersey south to Florida and west to southern Alabama...

 community on the east side of the developed part of campus, east of the present biology building. In 1988, at President Altman’s direction, the University expanded the Arboretum to include a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) Cypress

Cypress

Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...

 dome, an oak hammock of about 3 acres (12,140.6 m²), and about 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) of sand pine

Sand Pine

Pinus clausa is a small, often shrubby tree from , exceptionally to tall, found in two separate locations, one across central peninsular Florida, and the other in the western Florida panhandle and the Alabama coast; there is a range gap of about between the populations...

 and Florida scrub

Florida scrub

Florida scrub is an endangered temperate coniferous forest ecoregion of the state of Florida in the United States. It is found on coastal and inland sand ridges and is characterized by a xeromorphic plant community dominated by shrubs and dwarf oaks. Scrub soils, a type of entisol, are derived...

, connected to the original Arboretum by Sabal palmetto

Sabal palmetto

Sabal palmetto, also known as cabbage palm, palmetto, cabbage palmetto, palmetto palm, blue palmetto, Carolina palmetto, common palmetto, swamp cabbage and sabal palm, is one of 15 species of palmetto palm . It is native to the southeastern United States, Cuba, and the Bahamas...

 community and increasingly rare Florida longleaf pine flatwoods

Flatwoods

Flatwoods, Pineywoods, Longleaf Pine-Wiregrass Ecosystem refers to an ecological community in the Southeastern coastal plain of North America...

. During this time the director of the Arboretum was Dr. Henry O. Whittier. He would remain director of the Arboretum until his retirement 2003, when Dr. Whittier was replaced as director by Dr. Martin Quigley. In 2004, Hurricane Charley

Hurricane Charley

Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...

 decimated the pond pine community on the original 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) destroying most of the canopy. This area is currently being restored to its original state by the UCF Environmental Initiative & Arboretum. In 2008, the UCF Environmental Initiative was founded to manage the natural lands that are owned by the University of Central Florida, including the UCF Arboretum. Through management techniques, such as prescribed burns, the Environmental Initiative is reintroducing a natural fire schedule to the Pine Flatwoods and Scrub communities throughout campus. Prescribed burns are conducted by the UCF burn crew under the direction of UCF’s Burn Boss, Alaina Bernard, who is also assistant director of the Environmental Initiative.

Natural areas

East of Orlando, and about five miles (8 km) north of State Route 50 on Alafaya Trail, The University of Central Florida occupies approximately 1100 acres (4.5 km²) of east central Florida natural habitats, including some of the last elevated land (about75 feet (22.9 m) above sea level) before the St. Johns River

St. Johns River

The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...

, which lies between the campus and the coast.
Elevations range from about 50 feet (15.2 m) to 75 feet (22.9 m) above sea level, and more than two thirds of the campus has been described as wetlands, under the protection of the St. Johns River Water Management District.
The northeast and southeast sections of campus are wetland preserves whose waters flow east and north into the little Econlockhatchee River, which in turn flows into the Big Econlockhatchee before it joins with the St. Johns River near State Highway 46.

The elevated northwest corner of campus is geologically ancient coastline ridge which, because of its excellent water drainage, includes nature preserve containing a small remnant of the easternmost longleaf pine

Longleaf Pine

Pinus palustris, commonly known as the Longleaf Pine, is a pine native to the southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from eastern Texas to southeast Virginia extending into northern and central Florida....

 and American turkey oak

American Turkey Oak

Quercus laevis, the American Turkey Oak, is a member of the red oak group of oaks. It is native to the southeastern United States, occurring on the coastal plain from Delaware south to central Florida, and west to southeast Louisiana....

 association in central Florida. Most of the American turkey oak has disappeared from the highest part of the ridge, occupied by Alafaya trail. Intermittent or Shallow ponds and a small 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) lake, Lake Claire, lie immediately to the east. A small beach and some picnic pavilions are maintained for campus recreation.

On the east side of campus, east of Gemini blvd and south of Orion blvd, lies a 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) Cypress dome, an oak hammock of about 3 acres (12,140.6 m²), about 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) of sand pine and wild rosemary scrub, and 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) of pine flatwoods.

Wild rosemary scrub and longleaf pine flatwoods habitats are eminently suitable for construction, but the great majority of Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

 endemic (unique) species are found in these habitats. The presence of these habitats within the Arboretum provides important opportunities for the introduction and preservation of threatened or endangered species.

The flatwoods are so flat that after heavy rains in may take water one or two days to drain off – so flat that the land slopes at a rate of not much more than 2-3 inches per mile! The vegetation may look pretty boring from the highway, but that’s because of the repetitiveness of widely spaced longleaf pines and the apparent continuity of the saw palmetto

Saw Palmetto

Serenoa repens, commonly known as saw palmetto, is the sole species currently classified in the genus Serenoa. It has been known by a number of synonyms, including Sabal serrulatum, under which name it still often appears in alternative medicine. It is a small palm, normally reaching a height of...

 and occasional shrubby oak

Oak

An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...

s, lyonias, and hollies.
On foot, walking the narrow trails through this habitat in different months of the year, the person taking the time for a closer look sees a wide variety of more seasonal plants which includes wild orchids, pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts, lobelias, mints, tar flowers, blueberries, and others.

To maintain this biodiversity, the flatwoods and scrub ecosystems require fire to help clean up the dead and dried-up plant material that after some time can completely cover the ground. When these materials are burnt they return their nutrients back into the ground as ash and the next generation of flowers and grasses can emerge and thrive. This is the continuous cycle of growth, fire, and regeneration that these ecosystems need to be healthy.

Recreation

The Arboretum currently has approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) of walking/biking trails through the scrub and longleaf communities. These multi use trails also have an 18 hole disc golf course as well as interpretive signs that include information about the ecosystems through which they travel. The Natural Areas are open to the public from sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Pets are allowed as long as they are kept under control and on a 6 feet (1.8 m) leash. Group tours are available by reservation. To make reservations for a tour visit the Environmental Initiative’s website. Volunteer opportunities are also available with more information available at the website.