Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Turkey Oak Central Florida Ruderal Woodland

Colloquial Name: Central Florida Turkey Oak Ruderal Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association contains woodlands codominated by Quercus laevis and Carya floridana. These are usually dense, with scattered openings, and occur in association with scrub communities in the central sand ridges of Florida and other areas in central Florida. They appear to occur on less extreme sites, and also to be partly the result of logging and fire suppression. Many rare and endemic species occur, such as Liatris ohlingerae.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community now occupies substantially more acreage than high-quality scrub communities, but its extent is now decreasing because of conversion to Citrus plantations or loss through urbanization and development. There has been much debate about whether this type fits the ruderal concept, given that many stands largely result from fire suppression and logging, conditions that are true of many types considered natural. It is possible that historical analogues of this type occurred in "fire-sheltered" or "fire shadow" locations, although evidence is pretty anecdotal (S. Carr pers. comm. 2017). However, they are here treated as ruderal, at least for now, because Pinus palustris is typically lacking, and because the management strategy for these Quercus laevis stands is to restore them to Pinus palustris stands. Thus, as a practical matter, they are functionally considered ruderal. This type could also be considered a geographical variant of ~Quercus laevis / (Andropogon virginicus, Aristida spp., Schizachyrium scoparium) Ruderal Woodland (CEGL004689)$$, but it contains a number of endemic species of central Florida scrub.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available