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G008 Pinus clausa / Quercus geminata - Quercus myrtifolia Scrub Forest & Woodland Group
Type Concept Sentence: The vegetation of this group generally has an emergent overstory of Pinus clausa over xeromorphic shrub vegetation, including Quercus geminata, Quercus chapmanii, Quercus myrtifolia, and Quercus inopina. It occurs on deep sands in Florida, especially along the Lake Wales Ridge.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand Pine / Sand Live Oak - Myrtle Oak Scrub Forest & Woodland Group
Colloquial Name: Sand Pine Scrub Forest & Open Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: The vegetation of this group generally has an emergent overstory of Pinus clausa over xeromorphic shrub vegetation, including Quercus geminata, Quercus chapmanii, Quercus myrtifolia, and Quercus inopina. Ground cover is always sparse, and bare soil patches are typically evident. It is found on a sequence of sand ridges and ancient dune fields which are oriented from north to south in the Florida Peninsula. The appearance, floristics, and boundary of Florida scrub contrast dramatically with the "high pine" or sandhill vegetation which can be adjacent.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Pinus clausa over xeromorphic shrub vegetation, including Quercus geminata, Quercus chapmanii, Quercus myrtifolia, and Quercus inopina, on deep sand ridges in central Florida are the diagnostic characteristics.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands of this group have an emergent overstory of Pinus clausa over xeromorphic evergreen shrub vegetation (mostly Quercus species). According to Harper (1927), "the vegetation is mostly dwarfed, gnarled and crooked, and presents a tangled, scraggly aspect."
Floristics: The canopy is dominated by Pinus clausa. The most important shrub species include Quercus myrtifolia, Quercus inopina, Serenoa repens, Quercus geminata, Quercus chapmanii, Lyonia ferruginea, and Ceratiola ericoides. The ground cover is always sparse but typically includes Licania michauxii, Rhynchospora megalocarpa, Andropogon floridanus, and a variety of lichens (Cladonia species). There are a number of endemic plant species which may occur in inland Florida scrubs, including at least 13 federally listed species; many of the rarest scrub species are found only in the Lake Wales region. This group has long been noted for its unique and interesting vegetation by authors such as Vignoles (1823), Harper (1914), Mulvania (1931), Kurz (1942), and Laessle (1958, 1968). More recent treatments by Myers (1990a) and Menges (1999) have provided comprehensive summaries of scrub.
Dynamics: This vegetation is prone to infrequent, intense fire which can crown and consume Pinus clausa trees. The cones of Pinus clausa are mostly serotinous, which means they open and release seed right after fire. The common shrubs resprout after fire, and there are many herbaceous plants that benefit from fire as well. Much of the variability in Florida scrub is due to variation in fire-return interval, ranging from once every 10 to 100 years (Myers 1990a).
Environmental Description: Climate: Humid, warm temperate. The area of central Florida where this group occurs has very high frequency of lightning strikes. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Mainly found on deep coarse sands in central Florida, especially on ridges such as the Lake Wales Ridge. Despite high rainfall, the coarse sands seriously limit water and nutrient availability. According to Harper (1927), "the nearly pure white sand of the ground surface, when viewed from a short distance, gives the impression of a thin rift of wind-driven snow."
Geographic Range: This vegetation is mainly found in Central Florida, especially on the Lake Wales Ridge.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833195
Confidence Level: High
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.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.b Sand Pine / Sand Live Oak - Myrtle Oak Scrub Forest & Woodland Group | G008 | 1.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3117 Sand Pine Scrub Woodland Alliance | A3117 | 1.B.1.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sand Pine: 69 (Eyre 1980)
- Abrahamson, W. G. 1984. Post-fire recovery of the Florida Lake Wales Ridge vegetation. American Journal of Botany 71:9-21.
- Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, K. Snow, J. Teague, and R. White. 2003-present. Ecological systems of the United States: A working classification of U.S. terrestrial systems. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Harper, R. M. 1914. Geography and vegetation of northern Florida. Florida Geological Survey 6:163-391.
- Harper, R. M. 1927. Natural resources of southern Florida. Pages 27-206 in: 18th Annual Report. Florida Geologic Survey, Tallahassee.
- Johnson, A. F. 1982. Some demographic characteristics of the Florida rosemary, Ceratiola ericoides Michx. The American Midland Naturalist 108:170-174.
- Kurz, H. 1942. Florida dunes and scrub, vegetation and geology. Florida Department of Conservation, Geologic Survey. Geologic Survey Bulletin No. 23. Tallahassee. 154 pp.
- Laessle, A. M. 1958. The origin and successional relationship of sandhill vegetation and sand pine scrub. Ecological Monographs 28:361-387.
- Laessle, A. M. 1968. Relationship of sand pine scrub to former shore lines. Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Science 30:269-286.
- Lugo, A. E., and C. P. Zucca. 1983. Comparison of litter fall and turnover in two Florida ecosystems. Florida Scientist 46:101-110.
- Menges, E. S. 1994. Fog temporarily increases water potential in Florida scrub oaks. Florida Scientist 57:65-74.
- Menges, E. S. 1999. Ecology and conservation of Florida scrub. Pages 7-23 in: R. C. Anderson, J. S. Fralish, and J. M. Baskin, editors. 1999. Savanna, barren, and rock outcrops plant communities of North America. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
- Menges, E. S., W. G. Abrahamson, K. T. Givens, N. P. Gallo, and J. N. Layne. 1993. Twenty years of vegetation change in five long-unburned Florida plant communities. Journal of Vegetation Science 4:375-386
- Monk, C. D. 1966. An ecological significance of evergreenness. Ecology 47:504-505.
- Mulvania, M. 1931. Ecological survey of a Florida scrub. Ecology 12:528-540.
- Myers, R. L. 1990a. Scrub and high pine. Pages 150-193 in: R. L. Myers and J. L. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.
- Schmalzer, P. A., and C. R. Hinkle. 1992b. Recovery of oak-saw palmetto scrub after fire. Castanea 57:158-173.
- Schmalzer, P. A., and C. R. Hinkle. 1996. Biomass and nutrients in aboveground vegetation and soils of Florida oak-saw palmetto scrub. Castanea 61:168-193.
- Vignoles, C. B. 1823. Observations upon the Floridas. E. Bliss & E. White, New York.