Print Report

M162 Serenoa repens - Quercus myrtifolia / Aristida beyrichiana Scrub & Dry Prairie Macrogroup

Type Concept Sentence: This open shrub-dominated (oak scrub and scrubby flatwoods) and herb-dominated (dry prairie) vegetation occurs primarily in the Florida Peninsula, and some in southeastern Georgia, where sites are codominated by Aristida beyrichiana, Ceratiola ericoides, Quercus geminata, Quercus myrtifolia, or Serenoa repens.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saw Palmetto - Myrtle Oak / Beyrich''s Three-awn Scrub & Dry Prairie Macrogroup

Colloquial Name: Florida Peninsula Scrub & Herb

Hierarchy Level:  Macrogroup

Type Concept: These open prairies and shrublands mainly occur in the Florida Peninsula. Sites lack trees and are codominated by Aristida beyrichiana, Ceratiola ericoides, Quercus geminata, Quercus myrtifolia, or Serenoa repens. Dry prairie sites are generally open shrubby grasslands. They are essentially treeless areas dominated by Serenoa repens and other low shrubs, such as Bejaria racemosa, Ilex glabra, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, and Quercus minima, as well as a variety of grasses, such as Andropogon ternarius, Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum, and Sorghastrum secundum. In oak scrub and scrubby flatwoods sites, Ceratiola ericoides, Licania michauxii, Lyonia ferruginea, Quercus chapmanii, Quercus geminata, Quercus inopina, Quercus myrtifolia, and Serenoa repens are the most important shrub species. Shrubs can have very high cover in scrub sites. While in dry prairie sites shrubs tend to be <0.5 m tall, in scrub sites, shrubs can be 2-3 m tall. The height of the shrubs depends on the species present and the time since last fire.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Open treeless or nearly treeless prairies or scrub codominated by Aristida beyrichiana, Ceratiola ericoides, Quercus geminata, Quercus myrtifolia, or Serenoa repens. This macrogroup virtually lacks trees; it does not include woodlands. It is separated by physiognomic and floristic factors; the palm shrub physiognomy with Serenoa repens mixed with graminoids or broad-leaved evergreen shrubs is characteristic. It is limited to the Florida Peninsula and southeast Georgia.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This macrogroup is broadly differentiated based on floristics, especially codominance by Serenoa repens and grassland or shrubland physiognomy, but there is similar vegetation (classified in ~Longleaf Pine Woodland Macrogroup (M007)$$) which has an open tree canopy of Pinus elliottii var. densa, Pinus clausa, or Pinus palustris. The scrub and the dry prairie are fairly different in hydrology, soils, and dominant species. Dry prairie is generally thought of in Florida as "flatwoods without the pines." It has higher fire frequency combined with regular flooding at the beginning of the growing season, which prevents pine seedling establishment (Platt et al. 2006a). Whereas for scrub, other than saw palmetto, dry prairie does not share any shrubs with scrub, although it does share some with scrubby flatwoods which is ecotonal between scrub and flatwoods. It also shares Aristida stricta with scrubby flatwoods, but not with scrub (A Johnson pers. comm. 2014).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These generally are open and essentially treeless areas, dominated by evergreen shrubs and perennial grasses. Shrubs can have very high cover in scrub sites. Thus, whereas in dry prairie sites Serenoa repens shrubs tend to be <0.5 m tall, in scrub sites, the shrubs can be 2-3 m tall. The height of the shrubs depends on the species present and the time since last fire.

Floristics: These open prairies and shrublands are codominated by Aristida beyrichiana, Ceratiola ericoides, Quercus geminata, Quercus myrtifolia, or Serenoa repens. Dry prairie sites are generally open shrubby grasslands. They are essentially treeless areas dominated by Serenoa repens and low shrubs, such as Bejaria racemosa, Ilex glabra, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, Quercus minima, Vaccinium darrowii, and Vaccinium myrsinites, as well as a variety of grasses, such as Andropogon ternarius, Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Dichanthelium dichotomum var. ensifolium, Dichanthelium strigosum, Paspalum setaceum, Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum, Sorghastrum secundum, and others (Huffman and Judd 1998). In scrub sites Ceratiola ericoides, Licania michauxii, Lyonia ferruginea, Quercus chapmanii, Quercus geminata, Quercus inopina, Quercus myrtifolia, and Serenoa repens are the most important shrub species. Herbaceous ground cover is sparse in scrub sites but typically includes 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 threatened or endangered species; many of the rarest scrub species are found only in the Lake Wales region.

Dynamics:  These habitats are maintained by frequent fire, flooding during the growing season, and disturbance from hurricanes, such as very high winds and storm surge in coastal scrub. The frequency of fire is higher in dry prairie than in scrub or in the flatwoods that occur in the vicinity of dry prairies (Platt et al. 2006a). Flooding for short durations is common during the growing season in dry prairie, but most scrubs are not prone to flooding, as they generally occur on deep dry sandy uplands. Due to lack of fire, the replacement of dry prairies by oak palmetto stands has been well-documented at Myakka River State Park (Huffman and Blanchard 1990). Many of the graminoids and shrubs which occur in these habitats resprout following fire, however patches of Ceratiola ericoides may not survive if burned more than once in 20 years (Johnson 1982). In the sustained absence of fire, smaller shrubs and herbs may be lost as a consequence of increasing dominance of oak stems (Menges et al. 1993). Many scrub fires burn heterogeneously with resulting patches of unburned fuels, especially in the most xeric types like Ceratiola ericoides scrub (Menges 1994).
Environmental Description:  Examples of dry prairie occur on flat, low-lying terrain over moderately to poorly drained soils with sandy surfaces overlying organic hardpans or clayey subsoil (FNAI 1990, Platt et al. 2006a). Climate: The climate is subtropical, characterized by hot, wet summers and mild, dry winters. Annual rainfall is about 127 cm and occurs mostly in June through September. Soil/substrate/hydrology: These dry prairies occur on flat, moderately to poorly drained sandy sites. These areas are seldom inundated but may flood with several centimeters of water for short periods in spring or 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, Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990, Hardin 1990, Platt et al. 2006a). 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; types 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).

Examples of scrub are restricted to a sequence of north/south-trending sand ridges, ancient dunefields, and former shorelines in the Florida Peninsula and to a lesser extent, southeastern Georgia. The largest inland scrub is found in two primary areas, essentially isolated from one another. The so called "Big Scrub" of the Ocala National Forest is the largest expanse of this group, with a somewhat smaller, more southerly area associated with the Lake Wales Ridge. Climate: The climate is humid warm temperate. The area of central Florida has a very high number of lightning strikes. Soil/substrate/hydrology: According to Myers (1990), inland scrub occurs on Quartzipsamments which are excessively well-drained, nearly pure siliceous sands low in nutrients. Although all scrub soils are Entisols, there is considerable variation in soil color. This color variation appears to be related to the amount of leaching which has taken place, and appears to be related to the amount of time a site has been occupied by scrub vegetation. Excessive leaching, due to inferred long occupation by scrub vegetation, is believed to bleach upper soil horizons and develop pure white soils (such as the St. Lucie series), while moderate leaching, due to shorter occupation by scrub, contributes to less bleaching and consequently more yellow-colored soils (Paola and Orsino series).
Geographic Range: This macrogroup occurs in the Florida Peninsula (north of the Everglades and Big Cypress area) and southeast Georgia. Xeric scrub is found on the Lake Wales Ridge, on coastal sand ridges and on ridges along the north and east sides of coastal plain rivers. Dry prairie is found on the plains near the Myakka River, Kissimmee River, as well as north of Lake Okeechobee and near Fisheating Creek (west of Lake Okeechobee).

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  FL, GA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

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.a Myrtle Oak - Sand Live Oak Xeric Scrub Group G177 2.B.2.Nh.1.a
Group 2.B.2.Nh.1.b Saw Palmetto / Beyrich''s Three-awn Dry Prairie Group G176 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: > Dry Prairie (Huffman and Judd 1998)
> Dry Prairie (Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990)
> Oak-Saw Palmetto Scrub (Schmalzer and Hinkle 1992b)
> Palmetto Prairie (Serenoa - Aristida) (Küchler 1964)
>< Sand Pine Scrub (Pinus - Quercus) (Küchler 1964) [M162 does not include scrub vegetation with Pinus clausa canopy, only shrublands lacking canopy trees]
>< Scrub (Myers 1990a) [M162 does not include scrub vegetation with Pinus clausa canopy, only shrublands lacking canopy trees]
> Scrubby Flatwoods (Abrahamson et al. 1984)
>< Scrubby Flatwoods (Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990) [M162 does not include scrubby flatwoods vegetation with Pinus spp. canopy, only shrublands lacking canopy trees]
>< Scrubby Flatwoods (Huffman and Judd 1998) [M162 does not include scrubby flatwoods vegetation with Pinus spp. canopy, only shrublands lacking canopy trees]
> Southern Scrub Oak 72, "scrubby flatwoods" variant (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): Faber-Langendoen et al. (2014)

Author of Description: C.W. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-15-14
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