NATURE'S SIGNS:  WHAT DOES THIS PLANT TELL ME ABOUT AN AREA?

The soil is poorly drained.

One of the best examples of a biological indicator in Kingwood is the palmetto plant. These plants grow mainly in areas that are under water part of the year – near the edges of marshes and swamps or poorly drained areas of forests.

The palmetto normally reaches a height of around 2-4 m. It grows in clumps or dense thickets in sandy coastal lands or as undergrowth in pine woods or hardwood hammocks. Based on size and growth rate, some members of this species are estimated to be 500 to 700 years old.

East End Park contains several spectacular members of the species, mainly on the South Loop and Otter Point Trails.

Learn more about: THE SAW PALMETTO