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CEGL003538 Pinus elliottii var. densa / Serenoa repens - Tetrazygia bicolor - Guettarda scabra Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Florida Slash Pine / Saw Palmetto - Florida Clover-ash - Wild Guave Woodland
Colloquial Name: Miami Rock Ridge Pine Rockland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community has an open canopy of Pinus elliottii var. densa occurring over a low-shrub layer and a dense herbaceous stratum characterized by a mix of tropical and temperate taxa with a high percentage of endemic species. Vegetation is typically interspersed with large areas of exposed limestone. A hardwood understory will develop under fire suppression with Quercus virginiana and Lysiloma latisiliquum typically present. Shrub layers are quite diverse and vary locally, with tropical species less abundant in the northern part of this community''s range. Shrub strata species may include Vachellia farnesiana, Ardisia escallonoides, Sideroxylon reclinatum ssp. reclinatum, Callicarpa americana, Chrysobalanus icaco, Dodonaea viscosa, Ficus aurea, Ficus citrifolia, Guapira discolor, Guettarda scabra, Ilex glabra, Lyonia fruticosa, Metopium toxiferum, Morella cerifera, Myrsine cubana, Persea borbonia, Quercus minima, Quercus pumila, Quercus virginiana, Randia aculeata, Rhus copallinum var. leucantha, Sabal etonia, Sabal palmetto, Serenoa repens, Sideroxylon salicifolium, Tetrazygia bicolor, Vaccinium myrsinites, and Zamia pumila. Herbaceous species associated with this community include Acalypha chamaedryfolia, Aeschynomene viscidula, Andropogon ternarius, Anemia adiantifolia, Angadenia berteroi, Aristida patula, Asclepias verticillata, Bulbostylis sp., Chamaecrista deeringiana, Crossopetalum ilicifolium, Crotalaria pumila, Euphorbia polyphylla, Jacquemontia curtissii, Liatris chapmanii, Melanthera parvifolia, Opuntia humifusa, Polygala smallii, Schizachyrium spp., and Tragia urens. This community occurs on elevated (2-4 m) outcroppings of mid-Pleistocene marine limestone of the Miami Rock Ridge formation. Soils are shallow, circumneutral sands and sandy loams that accumulate in depressions and cracks in the rock surface. These soils are commonly saturated or the rock surface is very shallowly flooded for extended periods in the rainy season (May-October).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Tetrazygia bicolor is included in the name as a geographic indicator, distinguishing this mainland type from a similar community on the Florida Keys. While not dominant, it is a conspicuous shrub in these woodlands.
A similar woodland, ~Pinus elliottii var. densa / Coccothrinax argentata - Leucothrinax morrisii Woodland (CEGL003532)$$, occurs over limestone on South Florida''s lower keys. These rocky woodlands receive less rainfall than the mainland type described here, and are typically less species diverse. Both of these communities bear a strong resemblance to the rocky pinelands in the Caribbean, particularly in the eastern Bahama Archipelago on Grand Bahama, Abaco, New Providence, and Andros. These Bahamian pinelands have a canopy of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis, but are similar to the South Florida types in substrate, physiognomy, and tropical understory species (Snyder et al. 1990).
A similar woodland, ~Pinus elliottii var. densa / Coccothrinax argentata - Leucothrinax morrisii Woodland (CEGL003532)$$, occurs over limestone on South Florida''s lower keys. These rocky woodlands receive less rainfall than the mainland type described here, and are typically less species diverse. Both of these communities bear a strong resemblance to the rocky pinelands in the Caribbean, particularly in the eastern Bahama Archipelago on Grand Bahama, Abaco, New Providence, and Andros. These Bahamian pinelands have a canopy of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis, but are similar to the South Florida types in substrate, physiognomy, and tropical understory species (Snyder et al. 1990).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community has an open canopy of Pinus elliottii var. densa occurring over a low-shrub layer and a dense herbaceous stratum characterized by a mix of tropical and temperate taxa with a high percentage of endemic species. Vegetation is typically interspersed with large areas of exposed limestone. A hardwood understory will develop under fire suppression with Quercus virginiana and Lysiloma latisiliquum typically present. Shrub layers are quite diverse and vary locally, with tropical species less abundant in the northern part of this community''s range. Shrub strata species may include Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), Ardisia escallonoides, Sideroxylon reclinatum ssp. reclinatum, Callicarpa americana, Chrysobalanus icaco, Dodonaea viscosa, Ficus aurea, Ficus citrifolia, Guapira discolor, Ilex glabra, Lyonia fruticosa, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Myrsine cubana (= Myrsine floridana), Persea borbonia, Quercus minima, Quercus pumila, Randia aculeata, Rhus copallinum, Sabal etonia (= Sabal miamiensis), Sabal palmetto, Serenoa repens, Sideroxylon salicifolium, Tetrazygia bicolor, and Vaccinium myrsinites. Herbaceous species associated with this community include Acalypha chamaedryfolia, Aeschynomene viscidula, Andropogon ternarius, Anemia adiantifolia, Angadenia berteroi, Aristida patula, Asclepias verticillata, Bulbostylis sp., Chamaecrista deeringiana, Crossopetalum ilicifolium, Crotalaria pumila, Euphorbia polyphylla, Jacquemontia curtissii, Liatris chapmanii, Melanthera parvifolia, Opuntia humifusa (= var. humifusa), Polygala smallii, and Tragia urens. Rare plant species reported from this community include Amorpha herbacea var. crenulata, Brickellia eupatorioides var. floridana, Galactia smallii, Linum arenicola, Linum carteri var. carteri, Jacquemontia curtissii, Polygala smallii, Sachsia polycephala, Tephrosia angustissima, Argythamnia argothamnoides (= Argythamnia blodgettii), Bourreria cassinifolia, Hypelate trifoliata, and Ilex krugiana. Schinus terebinthifolius, Pennisetum purpureum, Albizia lebbekoides, and Neyraudia reynaudiana are exotic plants that threaten this community.
Dynamics: This community is fire-maintained, with an estimated natural fire frequency of every 3-10 years (Duever 1984c). Natural fires are typically started by lightning strikes during frequent summer thunderstorms. Within 15-25 years of fire exclusion, this community will succeed to a dense tropical hardwood forest.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on elevated (2-4 m) outcroppings of mid-Pleistocene marine limestone of the Miami Rock Ridge Formation. The exposed rock substrate has an irregular eroded surface, often sharp and jagged, and pitted with solution holes. Soils are shallow, circumneutral sands and sandy loams that accumulate in depressions and cracks in the rock surface. Deeper sands may occur where this community grades into adjacent flatwoods. These soils are commonly saturated or the rock surface is flooded for extended periods in the rainy season (May-October). Freezing is possible, but rarely occurs, and winters are typically moderate.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in Dade County, Florida, ranging from Biscayne Bay, south through the Long Pine Key area of Everglades National Park.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686829
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Na Southeastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D006 | 1.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Na.1 Longleaf Pine / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Macrogroup | M007 | 1.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Na.1.a Florida Slash Pine / Florida Silver Palm - White Bully Woodland Group | G005 | 1.B.1.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A0491 Florida Slash Pine Rockland Woodland Alliance | A0491 | 1.B.1.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003538 Florida Slash Pine / Saw Palmetto - Florida Clover-ash - Wild Guave Woodland | CEGL003538 | 1.B.1.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < IB6o. South Florida Slash Pine Savanna (Allard 1990) [one of two parts]
< Limestone Rockland Pine Forests (Loope et al. 1979)
= Miami Rock Ridge Pinelands (Snyder et al. 1990)
= Pine Rockland (Duever 1984c)
< Limestone Rockland Pine Forests (Loope et al. 1979)
= Miami Rock Ridge Pinelands (Snyder et al. 1990)
= Pine Rockland (Duever 1984c)
- 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.
- Duever, L. C. 1984c. Community Element Abstract: Pine Rockland. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Nongame Wildlife Program, Natural Areas Inventory. Tallahassee. 4 pp.
- Duever, L. C., and S. Brinson. 1984a. Community element abstracts. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Nongame Wildlife Program, Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 200 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]
- Loope, L. L., D. W. Black, S. Black, and G. N. Avery. 1979. Distribution and abundance of flora in limestone rockland pine forests of southeastern Florida. USDI National Park Service, Southern Florida Research Center. Report No. T-547. Homestead, FL.
- Snyder, J. R., A. Herndon, and W. B. Robertson, Jr. 1990. South Florida rockland. Pages 230-277 in: R. L. Myers and J. J. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. No date (a). Element stewardship abstract for Pine Rocklands. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Regional Office, Winter Park, FL.