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CEGL004236 Serenoa repens / Aristida beyrichiana Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saw Palmetto / Beyrich''s Three-awn Shrubland
Colloquial Name: Florida Dry Prairie (Saw Palmetto / Wiregrass Type)
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open shrubland community is a nearly treeless, open grassy expanse including Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Aristida purpurascens, Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon brachystachyus, Ctenium aromaticum, and Eragrostis spp. Sparse to dense cover of low, scrubby Serenoa repens and scattered patches of low shrubs including Quercus pumila, Quercus minima, Asimina spp., Ilex glabra, Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, Vaccinium myrsinites, and Morella cerifera are often present, with the density highly dependent upon fire history. Infrequently burned prairies and prairies which are burned only during the wet growing season and/or dormant season develop greater shrub and palmetto densities. An occasional tree may occur (less than 2 trees/ 1.0 ha), typically Pinus elliottii var. densa or Sabal palmetto. Other typical plants include Andropogon capillipes, Axonopus fissifolius, Carphephorus sp., Centella erecta, Chaptalia tomentosa, Drosera brevifolia, Sorghastrum secundum, Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum, Pityopsis graminifolia, Eryngium aromaticum, Liatris spp., Pterocaulon pycnostachyum, Piloblephis rigida, Lilium catesbaei, Sabatia brevifolia, Polygala spp., Solidago spp., and Hyptis alata. This community is endemic to Florida and occurs within a matrix of mesic pine flatwoods in the southern portion of the state on flat, moderately to poorly drained sandy sites. These areas are seldom inundated but may flood with several centimeters of water for short periods after heavy summer rains.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The Florida GAP program recognizes a single map unit which is apparently analogous to this type. The hydrology (and therefore the hierarchy placement) of this type is ambiguous. Soils appear to be saturated at or near the surface for substantial portions of the year, and this community type is probably best placed as ''saturated'' but appears droughty in other seasons. However, this community is closely related floristically to mesic pine flatwoods, except that it has no tree layer. As such, it appears to be drier than other documented herbaceous types with Aristida beyrichiana, which are often called "wet prairies" (FNAI 1990). LAPS type. Examples are known from Okeechobee (Kissimmee Prairie State Natural Area), Sarasota (Myakka River State Park), and Charlotte counties (Babcock Webb Wildlife Management Area), Florida. Huffman and Blanchard (1990) noted a ''new'' habitat type that is transitional in composition and structure between dry prairie and oak hammock. This type results from encroachment of live oak, sabal palmetto, and increased densities of saw palmetto into former dry prairie sites as a result of fire suppression. The overstory trees may subsequently be reduced or eliminated with prescribed burning, but the increased density of Serenoa repens seems to persist.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This open shrubland community is a nearly treeless, open grassy expanse including Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Aristida purpurascens, Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon brachystachyus, Ctenium aromaticum, and Eragrostis spp. with sparse to dense cover of low, scrubby Serenoa repens and scattered patches of low shrubs including Quercus pumila, Quercus minima, Asimina spp., Ilex glabra, Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, Vaccinium myrsinites, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera var. pumila). An occasional tree may occur (less than 2 trees/ha), typically Pinus elliottii var. densa or Sabal palmetto. Other typical plants include Andropogon capillipes (= Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus), Axonopus fissifolius, Carphephorus sp., Centella erecta, Chaptalia tomentosa, Drosera brevifolia, Sorghastrum secundum, Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum (= Schizachyrium stoloniferum), Pityopsis graminifolia, Eryngium aromaticum, Liatris spp., Pterocaulon pycnostachyum, Piloblephis rigida, Lilium catesbaei, Sabatia brevifolia, Polygala spp., Solidago spp., and Hyptis alata (Hardin 1990, Duever and Brinson 1984a, Duever et al. 1982, Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990, Moore and Swindel 1981).
Dynamics: Like the floristically and ecologically related pine flatwoods, the open structure and species composition of dry prairies is maintained by frequent fire. However, the natural fire frequency is thought to be greater than in the surrounding mesic pine flatwoods (Hardin 1990, Duever et al. 1982, Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990). Dry prairie is readily invaded by woody vegetation in the absence of fire, especially in the absence of fires which occur during the dry portions of early spring. In "good condition" this community has abundant herbaceous cover and relatively low cover (<40%) of Serenoa repens; degraded conditions are indicated by reduced herbaceous cover and increased cover of Serenoa repens. (Huffman and Werner 2000). Outright replacement of dry prairies by oak - palmetto stands has been well documented at Myakka River State Park (Huffman and Blanchard 1990). Some sources suggest that this community may be the result of anthropogenic factors that provided an unnaturally high fire frequency or removed vegetation through logging or grazing (Hardin 1990).
Environmental Description: The climate where this community occurs is subtropical, characterized by hot, wet summers and mild, dry winters. Annual rainfall is about 127 cm and occurs mostly in June through September. It occurs on flat, moderately to poorly drained sandy sites. These areas are seldom inundated but may flood with several centimeters of water for short periods after heavy summer rains. The normal water table is several centimeters (in summer and fall) to several meters (in winter and spring) below the ground surface (Duever and Brinson 1984a, Hardin 1990, Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990).
Soils consist of 0.1-0.9 m of undifferentiated quartz sand with a spodic horizon or clayey subsoil 30-107 cm below the surface. These acidic, nutrient-poor sands have few weatherable minerals and low clay nutrients in the surface soil (Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990). Soils supporting these sparse shrublands are classified as Arenic Haplaquods and include such series as Smyrna, type are Myakka (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric Alaquod), Wabasso (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Alfic Alaquod), Oldsmar (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Alfic Arenic Alaquod), Immokalee (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Arenic Alaquod), Leon, Adamsville, and Keri sands (Moore and Swindel 1981, Duever and Brinson 1984a).
Soils consist of 0.1-0.9 m of undifferentiated quartz sand with a spodic horizon or clayey subsoil 30-107 cm below the surface. These acidic, nutrient-poor sands have few weatherable minerals and low clay nutrients in the surface soil (Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990). Soils supporting these sparse shrublands are classified as Arenic Haplaquods and include such series as Smyrna, type are Myakka (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric Alaquod), Wabasso (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Alfic Alaquod), Oldsmar (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Alfic Arenic Alaquod), Immokalee (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Arenic Alaquod), Leon, Adamsville, and Keri sands (Moore and Swindel 1981, Duever and Brinson 1984a).
Geographic Range: This community is endemic to Florida and is limited in occurrence to southern (but temperate) portions of the Florida peninsula. It occurs within a matrix of mesic pine flatwoods in the southern portion of the state. The most extensive examples of this community occur in central-south Florida, north and west of Lake Okeechobee along the Kissimmee River. Smaller patches of this community occur west, through Desoto County and as far north as Volusia and Wakulla counties.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689788
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nh Southeastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D102 | 2.B.2.Nh |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nh.1 Saw Palmetto - Myrtle Oak / Beyrich''s Three-awn Scrub & Dry Prairie Macrogroup | M162 | 2.B.2.Nh.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nh.1.b Saw Palmetto / Beyrich''s Three-awn Dry Prairie Group | G176 | 2.B.2.Nh.1.b |
| Alliance | A1519 Saw Palmetto / Three-awn species Florida Dry Prairie Shrubland Alliance | A1519 | 2.B.2.Nh.1.b |
| Association | CEGL004236 Saw Palmetto / Beyrich''s Three-awn Shrubland | CEGL004236 | 2.B.2.Nh.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Central Florida Flatwoods/Prairies (Carr et al. 2010)
? ID5e. Florida Dry Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID5e. Florida Dry Prairie (Allard 1990)
- Abrahamson, W. G., and D. C. Hartnett. 1990. Pine flatwoods and dry prairies. Pages 103-147 in: R. L. Myers and J. L. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.
- 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.
- Davis, J. H., Jr. 1943. The natural features of southern Florida, especially the vegetation, and the Everglades. Florida Department of Conservation, Geologic Survey. Geologic Bulletin No. 25. Tallahassee, FL.
- Duever, L. C., J. F. Meeder, and M. J. Duever. 1982. Ecological portion: Florida peninsula natural region theme study. National Audubon Society Ecosystem Research Unit, Naples, FL.
- 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.
- Duever, M. J. 1984b. Environmental factors controlling plant communities of the Big Cypress Swamp. Pages 127-137 in: P. J. Gleason, editor. Environments of South Florida: Present and past. II. Miami Geological Society, Coral Gables, FL.
- 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]
- Hardin, D. 1990. Guide to the natural communities of Florida. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Nongame Wildlife Program, Natural Areas Inventory, and Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee. 111 pp.
- Harper, R. M. 1927. Natural resources of southern Florida. Pages 27-206 in: 18th Annual Report. Florida Geologic Survey, Tallahassee.
- Huffman, J. M., and P. A. Werner. 2000. Restoration of Florida pine savanna: Flowering response of Lilium catesbaei to fire and roller-chopping. Natural Areas Journal 20(1):12-23.
- Huffman, J. M., and S. W. Blanchard. 1990. Changes in woody vegetation in Florida dry prairie and wetlands during a period of fire exclusion, and after dry-growing-season fire. Pages 75-83 in: S. C. Nodvin and T. A. Waldrop, editors. Fire and the environment: Ecological and cultural perspectives. Proceedings of an International Symposium. Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC. 429 pp.
- McPherson, B. F. 1984. The Big Cypress Swamp. Pages 69-78 in: P. J. Gleason, editor. Environments of South Florida: Present and past. II. Miami Geologic Society, Coral Gables, FL.
- Moore, W. H., and B. F. Swindel. 1981. Effects of site preparation on dry prairie vegetation in south Florida. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 5:89-92.
- Orzell, S., and E. Hardin. 1992. Element global ranking form: Florida dry prairie. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Nongame Wildlife Program, Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 3 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.