Canaveral National Seashore Pumpkin Point
Sound
On/Off
[ Date ]
06 17 2026
Pumpkin Point is a historic place-name within Eldora along Mosquito Lagoon. Settled in the late nineteenth century, Eldora was a small community shaped by citrus growing, fishing, and clamming. Today, mangroves and cabbage palms border the open lagoon.
[ Geographic Features ]
Lagoon, Estuary, Shoreline, Wetland, Watershed, Mangrove fringe, Coastal plain, Tidal creek, Scrub habitat, Pine Flatwoods
[ Patterns of Land Use ]
Conservation Land, Waterfront Access, Boardwalk
[ Data Set ]
11:05 PM EST
28.906833, -80.820972
81°F 27.2°C 91% RH, Partly Cloudy
Wind 5 mph
At night, distances that seemed measurable during the day dissolve into silhouettes and reflections. Mangrove islands become dark shapes along the horizon. The lagoon is mostly movement and sound. A dock extends through the trees, visible for a short distance before disappearing into darkness. Red mangroves crowd the edges, their roots standing in still water beneath the canopy. Beyond them, the lagoon opens toward low islands and scattered points of light.
Stars appear in pale bands above the trees. Cabbage palms rise in silhouette while clouds move slowly across the stars, revealing and obscuring them. Wind moves through palm crowns and live oak branches. Water meets the roots and shoreline. Insects call above the boardwalk and lagoon edge. Much of what is present can be heard but not seen.
[ Plants ]
Saw Palmetto
Common Names: Saw Palmetto, Scrub Palm
Botanical Name: Serenoa repens
Low-growing native palm common in coastal scrub and flatwoods habitats throughout Florida. Its dense clonal colonies provide shelter and food for wildlife while helping stabilize sandy soils.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Serenoa
Species: S. repens
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Jesuit's Bark
Common Names: Jesuit's Bark, Marsh Elder, High-Tide Bush
Botanical Name: Iva frutescens
Salt-tolerant coastal shrub found along marshes, estuaries, and mangrove edges. It provides habitat for birds and insects and helps stabilize shorelines exposed to tidal influence.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Iva
Species: I. frutescens
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Chinese Banyan
Common Names: Chinese Banyan, Indian Laurel Fig, Curtain Fig
Botanical Name: Ficus microcarpa
Large evergreen tree known for its extensive aerial roots and broad canopy. Commonly planted in subtropical urban landscapes, where it provides significant shade and creates distinctive structural forms.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Species: F. microcarpa
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Black Mangrove
Common Names: Black Mangrove
Botanical Name: Avicennia germinans
Coastal mangrove species recognized by its upright breathing roots (pneumatophores). It occupies intertidal environments, providing shoreline protection, sediment capture, and critical habitat for fish and birds.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Avicennia
Species: A. germinans
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Chinese Silver Grass
Common Names: Chinese Silver Grass, Maiden Grass, Eulalia Grass
Botanical Name: Miscanthus sinensis
Tall ornamental bunchgrass with arching foliage and feathery seed heads. Frequently planted in landscapes for texture and seasonal interest, though it can become invasive in some regions.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Miscanthus
Species: M. sinensis
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Sea Oxeye
Common Names: Sea Oxeye, Sea Oxeye Daisy, Bushy Seaside Tansy
Botanical Name: Borrichia frutescens
Native coastal shrub with gray-green foliage and yellow daisy-like flowers. Common in salt marshes and estuarine shorelines, where it helps stabilize soils and supports pollinators.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Borrichia
Species: B. frutescens
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Saltwort
Common Names: Saltwort, Turtleweed, Saltwort Batis
Botanical Name: Batis maritima
Succulent coastal shrub adapted to salt marshes, mangrove margins, and tidal wetlands. Its fleshy leaves store water and allow it to thrive in highly saline environments.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Bataceae
Genus: Batis
Species: B. maritima