Print Report
A2030 Bursera simaruba - Coccoloba diversifolia - Eugenia axillaris Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This hardwood hammock forest alliance occurs in southern Florida, on rockland sites and is dominated by tropical hardwood species such as Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, and Eugenia axillaris.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gumbo Limbo - Tie-tongue - White Stopper Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Hardwood Hammock & Coastal Strand Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This hardwood hammock forest alliance occurs in southern Florida, on rockland sites. It consists of upland hardwood forest on elevated ridges of limestone in three discrete regions: the Florida Keys, southeastern Big Cypress, and the Miami Rock Ridge. Tropical hardwood species likely to be encountered throughout are Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, and Eugenia axillaris. The northward ranges of these species are limited by the incidence of frosts. These forests tend to have a dense canopy that produces deeper shade, less evaporation, and lower air temperature than surrounding vegetation. This microclimate, in combination with high water tables, tends to keep humidity levels high and the community quite mesic. A number of orchid and bromeliad species thrive in such conditions. Unlike most coastal plain systems, fire is a major threat to these hardwood hammock forests.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Tropical hardwood species are diagnostic of this alliance, although few are common or dominant in all regions where these hammocks occur (Snyder et al. 1990). Among the species likely to be encountered throughout are Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, and Eugenia axillaris.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This description and concept is very preliminary. Review throughout the Caribbean region is needed. Many remaining examples have been impacted by exotic plant invasion or altered by human disturbance through cutting of trees, burning, or drainage. The primary threats to this community include residential and commercial development and exotic plant invasion. Metopium toxiferum extends up into the peninsula; Eugenia foetida extends north to Brevard and Sarasota counties.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation is dominated by tropical broadleaf evergreen trees and shrubs. Epiphytic orchid and bromeliad species are often found in areas where frosts have not occurred in a long time. This alliance includes diverse-canopied forests with a short canopy height of 3-8 m.
Floristics: There tends not to be strong dominance in these forests, so the principal species list can be long. Some typical dominant tree species, in no real order, are Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, Metopium toxiferum, Swietenia mahagoni, Zanthoxylum fagara, Gymnanthes lucida (= Ateramnus lucidus), Piscidia piscipula, and Pithecellobium keyense (T. Armentano pers. comm.). Other species can include Byrsonima lucida, Capparis flexuosa, Casasia clusiifolia, Coccoloba uvifera, Erithalis fruticosa, Erithalis fruticosa, Eugenia foetida, Ficus aurea, Guapira discolor, Krugiodendron ferreum, Lysiloma latisiliquum, Nectandra coriacea, Sideroxylon foetidissimum, Leucothrinax morrisii (= Thrinax morrisii), and Thrinax radiata.
Dynamics: These forests are prone to disturbance from hurricanes, which can include extremely high winds, and in coastal areas salt spray and saltwater storm surge. Winter freezes sometimes occur which can damage the tropical woody plants which characterize this vegetation. The rockland habitats on the Florida mainland are mostly inland and not subject to the salt spray and storm surge associated with hurricanes. In the Florida Keys, freezing temperatures are very unusual. Fire is a major threat to the vegetation of this alliance. For this reason, many examples occur alongside natural firebreaks, such as the leeward side of exposed limestone (Robertson 1955), moats created by limestone solution (Duever et al. 1986), and elevated outcrops above marshes, scrub cypress, or sometimes mangrove swamps (Snyder et al. 1990).
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs on alkaline soil on elevated ridges of limestone in three discrete regions: the Florida Keys, southeastern Big Cypress, and the Miami Rock Ridge. Climate: The climate is humid subtropical. The northward ranges of the tropical hardwood species Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, and Eugenia axillaris are limited by the incidence of frosts (Drew and Schomer 1984). These forests tend to have a dense canopy that produces deeper shade, less evaporation, and lower air temperature than surrounding vegetation. This microclimate, in combination with high water tables, tends to keep humidity levels high and the community quite mesic (FNAI 1990). Soil/substrate/hydrology: The underlying geology and soils are somewhat different among the three regions of occurrence. Generally, soils are highly organic with uneven and widely ranging thickness (Snyder et al. 1990). Many examples occur alongside natural firebreaks, such as the leeward side of exposed limestone (Robertson 1955), moats created by limestone solution (Duever et al. 1986), and elevated outcrops above marshes, scrub cypress, or sometimes mangrove swamps (Snyder et al. 1990).
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in south Florida, including the Florida Keys, Cuba, Bahamas and the West Indies.
Nations: BS,CU,US
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.889962
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: DFL 5-13: this alliance is former G001.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Eugenio-Metopietalia toxiferi Order (Borhidi 1991)
>< Coastal Berm (FNAI 1992a)
>< Coastal Rock Barren (FNAI 1990)
? IA10a. Keys Hammock Forest (Allard 1990) [one of two parts]
= Rockland Forest (Ross et al. 1992)
> Rockland Hammock (FNAI 1990)
>< Rockland Hammock (FNAI 1992a)
? Rockland Hammock, Keys Hammock Thicket subtype (FNAI 1992b)
= Tropical Hammock (Snyder et al. 1990)
>< Tropical Hardwoods: 105 (Eyre 1980)
>< Coastal Berm (FNAI 1992a)
>< Coastal Rock Barren (FNAI 1990)
? IA10a. Keys Hammock Forest (Allard 1990) [one of two parts]
= Rockland Forest (Ross et al. 1992)
> Rockland Hammock (FNAI 1990)
>< Rockland Hammock (FNAI 1992a)
? Rockland Hammock, Keys Hammock Thicket subtype (FNAI 1992b)
= Tropical Hammock (Snyder et al. 1990)
>< Tropical Hardwoods: 105 (Eyre 1980)
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