It appears to be a Ligustrum japonicum, a very common landscaping plant in your area. Though usually very easy to grow, it can suffer from a couple of fungal disorders that will cause it to decline. The mossy growth is harmless lichen, which can be found growing on plants that are already in trouble. What I would suggest is that you cut this plant ALL the way back to the ground (ALL the way) in the early spring. Clean up the fallen leaves, apply some fresh mulch,and pay attention to the new growth as it emerges. Your ligustrum will probably grow three or four feet in a single growing season, looking much healthier than it was before. This technique, by the way, is called rejuvenation pruning, and works exceedling well with Ligustrum. You may need to apply a fungicide to this plant to keep it healthy, but they usually respond to common-sense cultural conditions.

Ted, For the life of me I can't figure it out! lol. I believe you are seeing sand on the leaf. The leaves are a bit thicker/fleshier than regular perennial leaves, but this seems to be a common occurrence of the shore versions of plants down there. It would of been nice if the plant had seeds that were larger to be able to match it to a family. I try to look at Florida plant lists when I have time, but have had no luck so far. Remy

That article doesn't say anything at all about it being a "new species", just that that particular plant is "recently discovered", doesn't it? And anyway, it doesn't sound like anyone's gotten close enough to it to make a proper species ID anyway... and 45 ft up, 150 ft from the boardwalk, one can easily imagine why. ;) And I must say, if I see Susan Orlean's name in connection with orchids once more, I may have to go postal - it was such a terrible book (amusing in a dumb, superficial way but badly written) and it's so depressing that she's made so much money from it...

Thanks so much! I wrote down both ajuga and lyreleaf sage down as possibilities while I was searching google. I was leaning towards the lyreleaf sage but just couldn't find any pics that looked just like it to be sure and wasn't really familiar with either. I guess when it flowers it will be more obvious. :) Thanks again!