| Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
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| Location | Monroe County, Florida,USA |
| Nearest city | Islamorada, Florida |
| Coordinates | 24°54′7.18″N80°41′57.56″W / 24.9019944°N 80.6993222°W /24.9019944; -80.6993222 |
| Area | 10,818 acres (43.78 km2)[1] |
| Established | 1971[2] |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
| Designated | October 1968 |
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is aFlorida State Park consisting ofLignumvitae Key, Shell Key, surrounding submerged lands, and a parcel at the northern end ofLower Matecumbe Key. The islands are located one mile west ofU.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) at mile marker 78.5, and can be reached only by private boat or tour boat.
Lignumvitae Key was designated aNational Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1968, recognizing thetropical hardwood hammock on the island.[3]
The park includes Lignumvitae Key (287 acres [116 ha]), Shell Key (203 acres [82 ha]), a parcel of (11 acres [4 ha]) on Lower Matecumbe Key, three parcels ofmangrove forest adjacent toUpper Matecumbe Key andLower Matecumbe Key, totaling 267 acres (108 ha), and 9,958 acres (40 km2) of submerged land, primarily on theFlorida Bay side of the Matecumbe Keys, but extending between Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key into theAtlantic Ocean.[4]
The park is managed jointly with theIndian Key State Historic Site, the Shell Key Preserve State Park, and theSan Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park.[5]
The state park largely overlaps the 6,700 acres (27 km2) Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve, which was designated by the state in 1969.[6]
Tropical hardwood hammocks dominate the key. Trees found on the island include Holywood Lignum-vitae (Guaiacum sanctum), False Mastic (Sideroxylon foetidissimum), Florida Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea), Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), Pigeonplum (Coccoloba diversifolia) and Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba).
Among the park's wildlife are a variety ofshore,wading andmigratory birds.
Lignumvitae Key has also been known as Cayo de la Leña (in the Spanish Florida period), Jenkinson Key (during British rule), and Lignurd Vetoz (in the early and middle 19th century), before becoming known by its present name sometime in the late 19th century.[7]
Lignumvitae Key, as part of the upper and middleFlorida Keys, is composed ofKey Largo Limestone, a fossilized coral reef formed hundreds of thousands of years ago when the sea level was higher than today. The flora on the island is typical of the Bahamas and West Indies, as the result of seeds being brought to the island by wind, water and migrating birds.[8] Shell Key is a mangrove island.[9]
A wealthychemist fromMiami,William John Matheson, bought the island in 1919. He built a small home, with awindmill to supply power and acistern to capture freshrainwater. The renovated building is now the visitor center for the park.[8]
The State of Florida acquired Lignumvitae Island in 1971. It has since added several parcels to the park.[1]
Hour-long guided walks occur twice daily, Friday - Sunday.There is no fishing or swimming allowed off the dock or within 100 feet of it.No more than 50 people are permitted on the Key at one time - 25 on the trail and 25 in the clearing. Visitors are warned to bring shoes and mosquito repellent.
The park is open from 8:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. daily except Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tours are given only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10am and 2pm December thru April.
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