No wetland is complete without the beautiful aquatic Fire Flag with its tall thin flower stalks & paired purple flowers on top.


Fire Flag or Alligator Flag is a large aquatic emersed plant found in the wetland areas of South Florida. It has large simple leaves which are lance-shaped and a beautiful yellow-green in color. They grow from a thick rhizome in swamps and wet areas and bloom from Summer to Fall. Besides the signature large leaves, the most notable characteristic of Fire Flag is the extremely thin flower stalks that rise up and move in the wind so gracefully. The flowers are paired with the flowering bracts emerging at the top of the stalks. They drape beautifully and provide a lovely contrast with the green leaves. These flowers are challenging to photograph in the field extended as they are from such a thin delicate stalks which tremble and move in the slightest breeze. The soft photo of the exotic plant is complete with a reddish stink bug. It is not uncommon to concentrate on the flowers and find later there were friends onboard.


Size: 5184px × 3456px
Location: Wetlands of South Florida, USA
Photo credit: © Judy Lovell-Janthina Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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