Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Ficus aurea and Sideroxylon foetidissimum are used as nominals to indicate maritime hammocks as they are much less common or absent in inland hammocks (Johnson and Muller 1993a). Johnson and Muller (1993a) also provide vascular species composition and abundance data on this type. This association includes some species not found on the eastern Florida coast, such as Piscidia piscipula, Acanthocereus tetragonus, Agave decipiens, Conocarpus erectus, and Hymenocallis latifolia. Other characteristic species include Acanthocereus tetragonus, Eugenia foetida, Eugenia axillaris, Forestiera segregata var. segregata, Chiococca alba, Randia aculeata, and Sideroxylon celastrinum. Some other common species include Pithecellobium keyense (= Pithecellobium guadalupense) (on Cape Sable, Highland Beach, etc. and in the Keys) and Metopium toxiferum. Pithecellobium unguis-cati is also highly characteristic, and Eugenia foetida is much more common than Eugenia axillaris in this subtype (T. Armentano pers. comm.). In comparison to the related hammocks of the eastern Florida coast, this type is less species-rich and lacks some species characteristic of the eastern type (such as Guapira discolor, Exothea paniculata, Nectandra coriacea, Amyris elemifera, Metopium toxiferum, Krugiodendron ferreum, Coccothrinax argentata, and Simarouba glauca).

Dynamics:  The northern limit of this type is defined by cold tolerance of the tropical species. Maritime hammocks north of the range of this type are characterized by temperate species including Persea borbonia, Quercus virginiana, Magnolia grandiflora, and Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola (Johnson and Muller 1993a).