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G765 Bursera simaruba - Coccoloba diversifolia - Eugenia axillaris Forest Group
Type Concept Sentence: This hardwood hammock forest group occurs in southern Florida, on elevated ridges of limestone or sandy shells. Tropical hardwood species likely to be encountered throughout are Bursera simaruba, Coccoloba diversifolia, and Eugenia axillaris.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gumbo Limbo - Tie-tongue - White Stopper Forest Group
Colloquial Name: Caribbean Hardwood Hammock & Coastal Strand Forest
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: In the U.S., this hardwood hammock forest group 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.
In the U.S., this group also occurs as a narrow band of hardwood forest and tall shrublands lying just inland of the coastal dune system in south Florida. It is found on stabilized, old, coastal dunes, often with substantial shell components. The vegetation is characterized by hardwood species with tropical affinities. As such, the northern extent of this group is limited by periodic freezes and cold-tolerance of tropical constituent species, such as Piscidia piscipula, Guapira discolor, Exothea paniculata, and Eugenia axillaris. These stands are closely related to the rockland based tropical hammocks.
In the U.S., this group also occurs as a narrow band of hardwood forest and tall shrublands lying just inland of the coastal dune system in south Florida. It is found on stabilized, old, coastal dunes, often with substantial shell components. The vegetation is characterized by hardwood species with tropical affinities. As such, the northern extent of this group is limited by periodic freezes and cold-tolerance of tropical constituent species, such as Piscidia piscipula, Guapira discolor, Exothea paniculata, and Eugenia axillaris. These stands are closely related to the rockland based tropical hammocks.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Tropical hardwood species are diagnostic of this group, 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. These tropical hammocks lack the more temperate species of maritime forests further north, including Persea borbonia, Quercus virginiana, Magnolia grandiflora, and Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola (Johnson and Muller 1993a).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The coastal maritime hammocks are closely related to the rockland hammocks, though those stands support a higher diversity of trees and shrubs. For instance, Leucothrinax morrisii and Thrinax radiata are found in rockland hammocks, but absent from the coastal maritime hammocks. The coastal maritime hammocks are distinguished from maritime forests further north which contain temperate species, including Persea borbonia, Quercus virginiana, Magnolia grandiflora, and Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola (Johnson and Muller 1993a).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation of this group is tropical hardwood forest, dominated by broadleaf evergreen trees and shrubs. Epiphytic orchid and bromeliad species are often found in areas where frosts have not occurred in a long time.
Floristics: The rockland hammock forests lack strong dominance. Some typical dominant to common 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 Lysiloma latisiliquum, Nectandra coriacea, Ficus aurea, Sideroxylon foetidissimum, Eugenia foetida, Guapira discolor, Coccoloba uvifera, Thrinax morrisii, Thrinax radiata, Erithalis fruticosa, Krugiodendron ferreum, Casasia clusiifolia, Erithalis fruticosa, Byrsonima lucida, and Capparis flexuosa.
The coastal maritime hammocks are also characterized by hardwood species with tropical affinities. As such, the northern extent of this type is limited by periodic freezes and cold-tolerance of tropical constituent species, such as Piscidia piscipula, Guapira discolor, Exothea paniculata, and Eugenia axillaris (Johnson and Muller 1993a). These communities in southeast Florida are distinguished from those in southwest Florida by two frequently occurring trees: Guapira discolor and Exothea paniculata. In addition, they are substantially richer floristically than southwestern coast hammocks. Other species occurring in eastern coast hammocks but not western coast examples include Nectandra coriacea, Amyris elemifera, Metopium toxiferum, Krugiodendron ferreum, Coccothrinax argentata, and Simarouba glauca. The very diverse canopy can be dominated or codominated by many species not included in the name, including Simarouba glauca, Coccoloba uvifera, Coccoloba diversifolia, Exothea paniculata, Sabal palmetto, and others.
The coastal maritime hammocks are also characterized by hardwood species with tropical affinities. As such, the northern extent of this type is limited by periodic freezes and cold-tolerance of tropical constituent species, such as Piscidia piscipula, Guapira discolor, Exothea paniculata, and Eugenia axillaris (Johnson and Muller 1993a). These communities in southeast Florida are distinguished from those in southwest Florida by two frequently occurring trees: Guapira discolor and Exothea paniculata. In addition, they are substantially richer floristically than southwestern coast hammocks. Other species occurring in eastern coast hammocks but not western coast examples include Nectandra coriacea, Amyris elemifera, Metopium toxiferum, Krugiodendron ferreum, Coccothrinax argentata, and Simarouba glauca. The very diverse canopy can be dominated or codominated by many species not included in the name, including Simarouba glauca, Coccoloba uvifera, Coccoloba diversifolia, Exothea paniculata, Sabal palmetto, and others.
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 group. 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: 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). In the United States, the rockland hammocks occur 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). 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).
The coastal maritime hammocks are found on stabilized, old, coastal dunes, often with substantial shell components. Climate: Humid warm temperate and humid subtropical. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Generally the vegetation of this group occurs on sands, which contain a larger portion of shell fragments further south in Florida.
The coastal maritime hammocks are found on stabilized, old, coastal dunes, often with substantial shell components. Climate: Humid warm temperate and humid subtropical. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Generally the vegetation of this group occurs on sands, which contain a larger portion of shell fragments further south in Florida.
Geographic Range: This group occurs in south Florida (including the Florida Keys), Cuba and likely other Caribbean islands. The northern extent of this group is limited by periodic freezes and cold-tolerance of tropical constituent species.
Nations: BS,CU,US
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.889966
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.1 Tropical Dry Forest & Woodland Formation | F003 | 1.A.1 |
| Division | 1.A.1.Ea Caribbean-Mesoamerican Dry Forest & Woodland Division | D099 | 1.A.1.Ea |
| Macrogroup | 1.A.1.Ea.2 Gumbo Limbo - Tie-tongue - Stopper species Caribbean Coastal Lowland Dry Forest Macrogroup | M134 | 1.A.1.Ea.2 |
| Group | 1.A.1.Ea.2.b Gumbo Limbo - Tie-tongue - White Stopper Forest Group | G765 | 1.A.1.Ea.2.b |
| Alliance | A2030 Gumbo Limbo - Tie-tongue - White Stopper Forest Alliance | A2030 | 1.A.1.Ea.2.b |
| Alliance | A2031 False Mastic - Blolly - Sea-grape Forest & Scrub Alliance | A2031 | 1.A.1.Ea.2.b |
Concept Lineage: G001 & G128 merged to form new G765 (DFL 5-29-13)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Coastal Berm (FNAI 1990)
>< Coastal Rock Barren (FNAI 1990)
>< Coastal Strand (FNAI 1990)
>< Maritime Hammock (FNAI 1990)
= Rockland Forest (Ross et al. 1992)
> Rockland Hammock (FNAI 1990)
>< Shell Mound (FNAI 1990)
= Tropical Hammock (Snyder et al. 1990)
>< Coastal Rock Barren (FNAI 1990)
>< Coastal Strand (FNAI 1990)
>< Maritime Hammock (FNAI 1990)
= Rockland Forest (Ross et al. 1992)
> Rockland Hammock (FNAI 1990)
>< Shell Mound (FNAI 1990)
= Tropical Hammock (Snyder et al. 1990)
- Armentano, Tom. Personal communication. National Park Service, Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL.
- Drew, R. D., and N. S. Schomer. 1984. An ecological characterization of the Caloosahatchee River/Big Cypress watershed. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. FWS/OBS-82/58.2. 225 pp.
- Duever, M. J., J. E. Carlson, J. F. Meeder, L. C. Duever, L. H. Gunderson, L. A. Riopelle, T. R. Alexander, R. L. Myers, and D. P. Spangler. 1986. The Big Cypress National Preserve. National Audubon Society Research Report No. 8. National Audubon Society, New York. 444 pp.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 1990. Guide to the natural communities of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory and Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee. 111 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]
- Johnson, A. F., and J. W. Muller. 1993a. An assessment of Florida''s remaining coastal upland natural communities: Final summary report. The Nature Conservancy, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee. 37 pp.
- Robertson, W. B., Jr. 1955. An analysis of the breeding-bird populations of tropical Florida in relation to the vegetation. Ph.D. thesis, University of Illinois, Urbana.
- Ross, M. S., J. J. O''Brien, and L. J. Flynn. 1992. Ecological site classification of Florida Keys terrestrial habitats. Biotropica 24:488-502.
- Snyder, J. R., A. Herndon, and W. B. Robertson, Jr. 1990. South Florida rockland. Pages 230-277 in: R. L. Myers and J. J. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.