Print Report
CEGL003532 Pinus elliottii var. densa / Coccothrinax argentata - Leucothrinax morrisii Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Florida Slash Pine / Florida Silver Palm - Key Thatch Palm Woodland
Colloquial Name: Florida Keys Pine Rockland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is characterized by a 7- to 13-m open canopy of Pinus elliottii var. densa over a well-developed subcanopy (4 m) of Coccothrinax argentata and Leucothrinax morrisii. In fire-suppressed areas, hardwood species may form a dense understory, but under a natural fire regime, these species are maintained as low shrubs. Tropical species occur as low, sparse shrubs with scattered grasses, forbs, and bare limestone. Greater than 50% of the ground surface is exposed rock, frequently sharp and jagged, and pitted with numerous solution holes and fissures. Typical shrub species include Vachellia farnesiana, Bourreria cassinifolia, Byrsonima lucida, Croton cascarilla, Lantana involucrata, Psidium longipes, Sideroxylon salicifolium, Chrysobalanus icaco, Ficus aurea, Ficus citrifolia, Morella cerifera, Myrsine cubana, Persea borbonia, Randia aculeata, Rhus copallinum, Sabal palmetto, Serenoa repens, Caesalpinia pauciflora, Catesbaea parviflora, and Strumpfia maritima. Herbaceous species in these communities are predominantly perennials, with a mix of tropical and temperate species. Typical species include Chamaesyce spp., Aristida spp., Andropogon ternarius, Schizachyrium sanguineum var. sanguineum, Sorghastrum secundum, Chamaecrista lineata var. keyensis, Evolvulus grisebachii, Linum arenicola, and Spiranthes torta. This community occurs on elevated outcroppings of mid-Pleistocene marine limestone of the Miami Rock Ridge Formation. Although this community may be subjected to flooding by ocean waters for 1-3 days during hurricanes, conditions are typically quite xeric.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Similar Pinus elliottii var. densa woodlands occur over limestone on South Florida''s mainland. These mainland areas have a more mesic moisture regime and are more floristically diverse than the Florida Keys type. 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). The mainland and lower Keys pine forests are really quite different in physiognomy as well as species composition. For example, in the mainland types there is no Leucothrinax, the Acacia is Acacia pinetorum rather than Vachellia farnesiana; there is no Evolvulus grisebachii nor Chamaecrista lineata in mainland pine forests. There are other differences (T. Armentano pers. comm. 2003).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is characterized by a 7- to 13-m open canopy of Pinus elliottii var. densa over a well-developed subcanopy (4 m) of Coccothrinax argentata and Leucothrinax morrisii (= Thrinax morrisii). In fire-suppressed areas, hardwood species may form a dense understory, but under a natural fire regime, these species are maintained as low shrubs. Tropical species occur as low, sparse shrubs with scattered grasses, forbs, and bare limestone. Greater than 50% of the ground surface is exposed rock, frequently sharp and jagged and pitted with numerous solution holes and fissures. Typical shrub species include Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), Bourreria cassinifolia, Byrsonima lucida, Croton cascarilla (= Croton linearis), Lantana involucrata, Psidium longipes, Sideroxylon salicifolium, Chrysobalanus icaco, Ficus aurea, Ficus citrifolia, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Myrsine cubana (= Myrsine floridana), Persea borbonia, Randia aculeata, Rhus copallinum, Sabal palmetto, Serenoa repens, Caesalpinia pauciflora, Catesbaea parviflora, and Strumpfia maritima. Herbaceous species in these communities are predominantly perennials, with a mix of tropical and temperate species. Typical species include Chamaesyce spp., Aristida spp., Andropogon ternarius, Schizachyrium sanguineum var. sanguineum, Sorghastrum secundum, Chamaecrista lineata var. keyensis, Evolvulus grisebachii, Linum arenicola, and Spiranthes torta. This community is habitat for many rare plants, including Chamaecrista lineata var. keyensis, Coccothrinax argentata, Melanthera parvifolia, Jacquemontia curtissii, Crossopetalum ilicifolium, Acalypha chamaedryfolia, Chamaecrista deeringiana, Crotalaria pumila, Anemia adiantifolia, Agalinis oligophylla, Andropogon gracilis (= Schizachyrium sericatum), Chamaesyce deltoidea ssp. serpyllum, and Chamaesyce porteriana var. scoparia. Rare animals include Odocoileus virginianus clavium, Diadophis punctatus acricus, Elaphe guttata guttata, Procyon loto rauspicatus, and Sylvilagus palustris. Exotic plant species that threaten the remaining tracts of this community include Neyraudia reynaudiana and Schinus terebinthifolius.
Dynamics: Within 50 years of fire exclusion, this community will succeed to a tropical hardwood hammock with a relict overstory of pine. The frequency at which this community burned before modern times is difficult to ascertain. However, a reasonable estimate of fire-recurrence interval is between 3 and 15 years.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on elevated outcroppings of mid-Pleistocene marine limestone of the Miami Rock Ridge formation. This oolitic limestone is highly porous and holds rainwater, allowing development of the freshwater lens on which this community depends. The exposed rock substrate has an irregular eroded surface, often sharp and jagged, pitted with solution holes. Soils are deposits of sand, marl, and organic material that accumulate in depressions and cracks in the rock surface. Although this community may be subjected to flooding by ocean waters for 1-3 days during hurricanes, conditions are typically quite xeric. The climate of south Florida is characterized by moderate, almost frost-free winters and seasonal rainfall patterns, with 75% of the annual rainfall occurring from May through October.
Geographic Range: This community is endemic to south Florida, occurring in the lower portion of the Florida Keys and ranging from the National Key Deer Refuge and Big Pine Key, south to Key West.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688090
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 | CEGL003532 Florida Slash Pine / Florida Silver Palm - Key Thatch Palm Woodland | CEGL003532 | 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: = ESU 9--Pine Rockland Forest (Ross et al. 1992)
< IB6o. Keys Pine Rockland (South Florida Slash Pine Savanna) (Allard 1990)
< IB6o. Keys Pine Rockland (South Florida Slash Pine Savanna) (Allard 1990)
- 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.
- Armentano, Tom. Personal communication. National Park Service, Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL.
- Duever, L. C. 1984a. Natural communities of Florida''s rocklands. Palmetto, April 1984:8-11.
- 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.
- Ross, M. S., J. J. O''Brien, and L. J. Flynn. 1992. Ecological site classification of Florida Keys terrestrial habitats. Biotropica 24:488-502.
- 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.