Print Report
CEGL003862 Ceratiola ericoides - Quercus geminata - Ximenia americana / Cladonia spp. Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand-heath - Sand Live Oak - Tallow-wood / Cup Lichen species Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Peninsular Coastal Sand-heath Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is limited to ridges and dunes of the Florida peninsular coast. In this shrubland community Ceratiola ericoides is often present in nearly pure stands; scattered Pinus clausa and scrub oaks may be present. The herb layer is generally sparse and dominated by lichens (Cladonia leporina, Cladonia prostrata, Cladonia evansii, and Cladonia subtenuis). The white or light-colored sandy soils are well-drained and infertile. Ceratiola ericoides scrub is pyrogenic with fire frequencies of 30-40 years, depending on fuel availability and ignition sources.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is defined to have Ceratiola as the single dominant; it is more limited in distribution than ~Ceratiola ericoides - Quercus geminata - (Quercus inopina) - Serenoa repens / Cladonia spp. Shrubland (CEGL003863)$$. This association as described is broadly defined and includes (in part) ~Ceratiola ericoides - (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa) / Polygonella polygama / Cladonia leporina Shrubland (CEGL003864)$$. The concept of this association needs to be narrowed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Ceratiola ericoides is often present in nearly pure stands; scattered Pinus clausa and scrub oaks may be present. The herb layer is generally sparse and dominated by lichens (Cladonia leporina, Cladonia prostrata, Cladonia evansii (= Cladina evansii), and Cladonia subtenuis (= Cladina subtenuis)).
Dynamics: Ceratiola ericoides scrub is pyrogenic with fire frequencies of 30-40 years, depending on fuel availability and ignition sources.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on extremely well-drained and infertile white or light-colored Quartzipsamment soils including the St. Lucie, Paola, and Orsino series. Soils of this type may be more nutrient-poor than soils supporting Quercus-dominated scrub vegetation (A. Johnson pers. comm. 1994). Examples on yellowish sands may be pioneer scrubs occurring on sandhills formerly dominated by Pinus palustris (Christman 1988).
Geographic Range: This community is limited to ridges and dunes of the Florida peninsular coast.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685342
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup | M057 | 2.B.4.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.2.a Wax-myrtle - Sea-oats - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group | G494 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A3689 Sand Live Oak - Myrtle Oak Dune Shrubland Alliance | A3689 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL003862 Sand-heath - Sand Live Oak - Tallow-wood / Cup Lichen species Shrubland | CEGL003862 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IB8h. Gulf Coastal Scrub (Allard 1990)
? Sand Pine: 69 (Eyre 1980)
? Sand Pine: 69 (Eyre 1980)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Christman, S. P. 1988. Endemism and Florida''s interior sand pine scrub. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Division of Wildlife, Nongame Wildlife Section. Project Report GFC-84-101. Tallahassee, FL. 246 pp.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 2010a. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. 228 pp. [https://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm]
- Johnson, Ann F. Personal communication. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.