|                    Hammock groundsel, Broombush Falsewillow
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                |                    Baccharis dioica  
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                |                    Asteraceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.  It can also be used as an accent shrub in moist sunny areas.  It is also useful in buffer plantings. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                 Extirpated in South Florida. Recommended for reintroduction. | 
               
              
                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Available at native plant nurseries in central and South Florida. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
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                 Medium bushy shrub. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 Typically 3-6 feet in height. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Fast. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 South Florida, West Indies and Mexico (Yucatan peninsula); in South Florida historically known only from the Brickell Hammock area near modern-day downtown Miami. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Hammock edges and thickets. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with or without humus. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with or without humusy top layer. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 High; does not require any supplemental water once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Full sun. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 White | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Semi-showy heads; fragrant. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 Fall. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous achene, but fruiting masses can be semi-showy. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                 Provides some food and significant cover for wildlife. Nectar from the male flowers attacts pollinators and the seeds are dispersed by wind. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Presumably can be grown from seed and cuttings. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                    George D. Gann In habitat on Great Abaco, Bahamas
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                    George D. Gann In habitat, New Providence, Bahamas, 2012
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