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CEGL003643 Pinus elliottii / Serenoa repens - Ilex glabra Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Slash Pine / Saw Palmetto - Inkberry Woodland

Colloquial Name: Slash Pine Flatwoods

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association is broadly defined to encompass the range of variation present in Pinus elliottii var. elliottii flatwoods ranging from Mississippi to South Carolina. This type is currently best known in Florida where it occurs in the panhandle (on Eglin Air Force Base), South Atlantic Coast (Osceola National Forest), and peninsula (Ocala National Forest). Pinus elliottii var. elliottii dominates the generally open canopy. Pinus palustris or Gordonia lasianthus and Pinus serotina can be present, even codominant. The dense shrub stratum consists primarily of Ilex glabra and Serenoa repens. The most common vine is Smilax laurifolia. The herbaceous flora is generally sparse or patchy.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This community is related to ~Pinus palustris / Serenoa repens - Ilex glabra Woodland (CEGL003653)$$, which has a similar shrub and herbaceous flora but which is dominated by Pinus palustris.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Pinus elliottii var. elliottii dominates the generally open canopy. Pinus palustris or Gordonia lasianthus and Pinus serotina can be present, even codominant. The dense shrub stratum consists primarily of Ilex glabra and Serenoa repens. Other common shrubs include Persea palustris, Gaylussacia nana, Gaylussacia dumosa, Gaylussacia tomentosa, Aronia arbutifolia, Quercus minima, Ilex coriacea, Vaccinium elliottii, Acer rubrum, Vaccinium formosum, Bejaria racemosa, Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia fruticosa, Morella cerifera, Kalmia hirsuta, Vaccinium myrsinites, and Lyonia lucida (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). The most common vine is Smilax laurifolia; other vines are Smilax auriculata, Smilax glauca, and Vitis rotundifolia. The herbaceous flora is generally sparse or patchy, including Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Woodwardia virginica, Pteridium aquilinum, Andropogon glomeratus, Andropogon capillipes, Andropogon virginicus, Sporobolus curtissii, Sporobolus floridanus, Schizachyrium scoparium, Dichanthelium spp., Gratiola hispida, Pityopsis graminifolia, and Xyris spp.

Dynamics:  This flatwoods association typically occurs in areas which have not been subjected to repeated growing-season fire. The dominance of shrubs is generally related to lack of fire, or prescribed fire outside the growing season or lightning season. Many of these sites probably were dominated by Pinus palustris in the past, but are now dominated by Pinus elliottii.

Environmental Description:  Soils in this type of flatwoods range from poorly drained to very poorly drained, fine sandy loams or silt loams, but are typically poorly drained, light-textured, fine sands which are generally acidic, with low organic matter and a spodic horizon which retards drainage. On some sites which tend towards mesic, this association occurs where there has been a lack of growing-season fire.

Geographic Range: This broadly defined association ranges from Mississippi to South Carolina.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA, MS, SC




Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G4?

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: merged

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: < Central Florida Flatwoods/Prairies (Carr et al. 2010)
? IIB1a. Slash Pine Flatwoods (Allard 1990)
= Wet Flatwoods (Kindell et al. 1997)

Concept Author(s): J.E. Mohan

Author of Description: C.W. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-16-02

  • 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.
  • Carr, S. C., K. M. Robertson, and R. K. Peet. 2010. A vegetation classification of fire-dependent pinelands of Florida. Castanea 75(2):153-189.
  • GNHP [Georgia Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. Georgia Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle.
  • Kindell, C. E., B. J. Herring, C. Nordman, J. Jensen, A. R. Schotz, and L. G. Chafin. 1997. Natural community survey of Eglin Air Force Base, 1993-1996: Final report. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 123 pp. plus appendix.
  • NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Nelson, J. B. 1986. The natural communities of South Carolina: Initial classification and description. South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Columbia, SC. 55 pp.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.