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G002 Annona glabra / Chrysobalanus icaco Swamp Forest Group

Type Concept Sentence: These are forested wetlands of the Caribbean region and south Florida which are dominated by a combination of broad-leaved evergreen trees of tropical affinities, palms, and (in Florida) temperate deciduous trees.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pond-apple / Coco-plum Swamp Forest Group

Colloquial Name: Caribbean Lowland Swamp Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group includes tree-dominated wetlands in the southern Florida Peninsula. These wetlands include wet open woodlands and closed wetland forests of broad-leaved evergreen trees. Some examples are wet hardwood-dominated hammocks, stands of predominately broad-leaved hardwoods often called "tree islands" on slightly elevated sites within marshes of the south Florida Everglades region. The trees present are a combination of broad-leaved evergreen trees of tropical affinities, temperate broad-leaved deciduous trees, and the deciduous needle-leaved Taxodium spp.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This group includes tree-dominated wetlands in the southern Florida Peninsula.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This group includes wet open woodlands and closed wetland forests of mostly subtropical broad-leaved evergreen trees. The physiognomy is diverse. The group also includes many subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forest associations which occur in wetlands in the southern Florida Peninsula. The open woodlands or savannas dominated by Taxodium ascendens in south Florida are now placed in ~Taxodium ascendens / Annona glabra / Rhynchospora spp. Subtropical Swamp Forest Alliance (A4085)$$, ~Pond-cypress Basin Swamp Group (G036)$$, ~Pond-cypress Basin Swamp Macrogroup (M161)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This group includes wet open woodlands and closed wetland forests of mostly subtropical broad-leaved evergreen trees. The physiognomy is diverse.

Floristics: Trees that may be present include Annona glabra, Chrysobalanus icaco, Ficus aurea, Persea palustris, Conocarpus erectus, Roystonea elata, Taxodium ascendens, Taxodium distichum, Quercus laurifolia, Quercus virginiana, Sabal palmetto, Metopium toxiferum, Chrysobalanus icaco, Fraxinus caroliniana, and Acer rubrum. These are a combination of broad-leaved evergreen trees of tropical affinities, temperate broad-leaved deciduous trees, and the deciduous needle-leaved Taxodium spp. In the broad-leaved evergreen forests, characteristic shrubs include Myrsine cubana (= Myrsine floridana), Psychotria nervosa, Persea palustris, and Chrysobalanus icaco. Herbaceous plants in the broad-leaved evergreen forests include Crinum americanum, Bacopa caroliniana, Acrostichum aureum, Acrostichum danaeifolium, Nephrolepis exaltata, and Sagittaria graminea.

Dynamics:  The broad-leaved evergreen forests included in this group are generally not prone to fire except in extreme drought conditions (due to weather or hydrological alteration). The peat substrate can also burn under these forests.
Environmental Description:  This group is limited to low-elevation wetlands in the southern Florida Peninsula and occurs in the Everglades and Big Cypress areas. Climate: The climate is subtropical, with a dry season in the North American winter, and a rainy season in the North American summer. Soil/substrate/hydrology: This group occurs in wetlands, such as floodplains, depressions, low areas surrounding marshes or in tree islands in the Everglades (which generally are slightly higher than the surrounding marshes). The soils are generally peats (which may be deep) or muck, or limestone-influenced wet soils.
Geographic Range: This group occurs on the southern Florida Peninsula and on islands in the Caribbean.

Nations: BS,CU,MQ,PR,TT,US

States/Provinces:  FL


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.A Tropical Forest & Woodland Subclass S17 1.A
Formation 1.A.4 Tropical Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F029 1.A.4
Division 1.A.4.Ed Caribbean-Central American Flooded & Swamp Forest Division D093 1.A.4.Ed
Macrogroup 1.A.4.Ed.2 Cabbage Palmetto - Pond-apple - Terocarpo Swamp Forest Macrogroup M617 1.A.4.Ed.2
Group 1.A.4.Ed.2.a Pond-apple / Coco-plum Swamp Forest Group G002 1.A.4.Ed.2.a
Concept Lineage: with changes in concepts of M617 and G002, G460 was coverded with G002 (CJ 5-14-13)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Inland Swamps, Cypress and Bay Tree Forests (Davis 1943)
Concept Author(s): J.H. Davis, Jr. (1943)

Author of Description: C.W. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-07-15
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  • Anonymous. 1978. Ecological communities-climatic zones Florida. Publisher unknown. Approximately 80 pp.
  • 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.
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  • Gunderson, L. H., and L. L. Loope. 1982b. A survey and inventory of the plant communities of the Pinecrest area, Big Cypress National Preserve. USDI National Park Service, Southern Florida Research Center. Report No. T-655. Homestead, FL. 43 pp.
  • Gunderson, L. H., and W. F. Loftus. 1993. The Everglades. Pages 199-255 in: W. H. Martin, S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. Biodiversity of the southeastern United States: Lowland terrestrial communities. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 502 pp.
  • Hilsenbeck, C. E., R. H. Hofstetter, and T. R. Alexander. 1979. Preliminary synopsis of major plant communities in the East Everglades area: Vegetation map supplement. Unpublished document. Metropolitan Dade County Planning Department, Miami, FL.
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