Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Examples of this association are pure to mixed, open stands of Sabal palmetto, often with Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola. Shrub and herb species can include Yucca aloifolia, Rhus copallinum, Ilex vomitoria, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera).

Dynamics:  In maritime forests in the Sea Islands region (USFS 232Ce, EPA Ecoregion 75j) (Keys et al. 1995, EPA 2204), a successional pathway may exist from which new islands of sand or shell are first colonized by Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola and Sabal palmetto (with salt shrub species as well). This would include ~Sabal palmetto - (Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola) Woodland (CEGL003526)$$ and ~Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola - (Quercus virginiana, Sabal palmetto) Forest (CEGL007813)$$. These associations represent an early stage in this process. This could be considered an important stage in the stabilization and maintenance of hammock and barrier islands. In the absence of disturbance, this sere in time will give way to ~Quercus virginiana - (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, Sabal palmetto) / Persea borbonia - Callicarpa americana Forest (CEGL007032)$$ with red-cedar, palmetto, yaupon and wax-myrtle as components. Ultimately as the soils become more nutrient-rich and in the absence of major disturbance events, Quercus hemisphaerica, Magnolia grandiflora, and Quercus nigra become more dominant, for example, as in ~Quercus virginiana - Quercus hemisphaerica - Pinus taeda / Persea palustris - Ilex vomitoria Forest (CEGL007027)$$. Of course tropical storms, flood tides and other wind events may alter this succession. This general pattern also may be reflected on larger maritime islands when one goes from the salt marsh to the island interior. Composition varies with the presence of shell or spoil in the soil. Some variants, such as ~Quercus geminata - (Quercus virginiana) / Serenoa repens - Lyonia fruticosa Forest (CEGL007020)$$ (from the coast of Florida, Georgia and at least one location in South Carolina), do not fit perfectly into this scheme, but in South Carolina they are more anomalies than the norm.

Hurricanes probably help maintain this community''s structure and composition, as Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola and Sabal palmetto are favored by hurricane disturbance relative to other coastal woody species.