Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park

Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park is a Florida State Park consisting of Lignumvitae Key, Shell Key, surrounding submerged lands, and a parcel at the northern end of Lower Matecumbe Key. The islands are located one mile west of U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) at mile marker 78.5, and can be reached only by private boat or tour boat.

Lignumvitae Key was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1968, recognizing the tropical hardwood hammock on the island.

The park includes Lignumvitae Key (287 acre), Shell Key (203 acre), a parcel of (11 acre) on Lower Matecumbe Key, three parcels of mangrove forest adjacent to Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key, totaling 267 acre, and 9958 acre of submerged land, primarily on the Florida Bay side of the Matecumbe Keys, but extending between Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key into the Atlantic Ocean.

The park is managed jointly with the Indian Key State Historic Site, the Shell Key Preserve State Park, and the San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park.

The state park largely overlaps the 6,700 acre Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve, which was designated by the state in 1969.

Flora
Tropical hardwood hammocks dominate the key. Trees found on the island include Holywood Lignum-vitae (Guaiacum sanctum), False Mastic (Sideroxylon foetidissimum), Florida Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea), Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum), Pigeonplum (Coccoloba diversifolia) and Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba).

Fauna
Among the park's wildlife are a variety of shore, wading and migratory birds.

History
Lignumvitae Key has also been known as Cayo de la Leña (in the Spanish Florida period), Jenkinson Key (during British rule), and Lignurd Vetoz (in the early and middle 19th century), before becoming known by its present name sometime in the late 19th century.

Lignumvitae Key, as part of the upper and middle Florida Keys, is composed of Key Largo Limestone, a fossilized coral reef formed hundreds of thousands of years ago when the sea level was higher than today. The flora on the island is typical of the Bahamas and West Indies, as the result of seeds being brought to the island by wind, water and migrating birds. Shell Key is a mangrove island.

A wealthy chemist from Miami, William John Matheson, bought the island in 1919. He built a small home, with a windmill to supply power and a cistern to capture fresh rainwater. The renovated building is now the visitor center for the park.

The State of Florida acquired Lignumvitae Island in 1971. It has since added several parcels to the park.

Activities
Hour-long guided walks occur twice daily, Friday - Sunday. There is no fishing or swimming allowed off the dock or within 100 feet of it. No more than 50 people are permitted on the Key at one time - 25 on the trail and 25 in the clearing. Visitors are warned to bring shoes and mosquito repellent.

Hours
The park is open from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. daily except Tuesday and Wednesday.

Due to state cut backs, tours are given only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10am and 2pm.