In my earlier days, I never was much of a plant enthusiast. In fact, I primarily overlooked vegetation, or looked through it to spot snakes and birds! But as one paddles the black waters of the Okefenokee Swamp you can’t ignore the colorful spikes of gold, white and pink that rise above the lily pads on the Middle Fork of the Suwannee River (Red Trail), and other canals throughout the swamp.
Golden Club (Orontium aquaticum) is a flowering spike of color that blooms above the tannin black water of the Okefenokee Swamp. A pink and white stem with gold flower spikes, like golden clubs, and dark green leaves that are waxy and water repellent, giving it the name Never-wet. It is a floating arum endemic to the eastern United States.
At times, they bloom in small patches here and there. But there is nothing more beautiful that a wide patch of colorful Never-wet in the darker areas of the swamp. Vibrant colors that capture the attention of the traveler.
iNaturalist observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40953863
Okefenokee Photography Project by William Wise 