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A0052 Quercus geminata - Serenoa repens Dry Sclerophyll Forest Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes forests dominated by Quercus geminata, on dry (sometimes called xeric) maritime hammocks of Florida, and coastal areas of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It also occurs on bayside shores of the mainland coast and inland on dry coarse sands.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sand Live Oak - Saw Palmetto Dry Sclerophyll Forest Alliance

Colloquial Name: Sand Live Oak Dry Sclerophyll Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes forests dominated by Quercus geminata. These occur on bayside shores of the mainland coast and inland on coarse sands. This alliance includes dry (sometimes called xeric) maritime hammocks of the northeastern coast of Florida, south at least to Cape Canaveral, and of the Florida Panhandle, and coastal areas of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. It also includes inland dry hammocks dominated by Quercus geminata, often with Serenoa repens. Other characteristic species include Lyonia ferruginea, Morella cerifera, Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Persea borbonia, and Quercus myrtifolia. Characteristic shrubs may include Ilex vomitoria, Lyonia fruticosa, Serenoa repens, and Sideroxylon lanuginosum. The soils at sites where this alliance is found typically contain deep, infertile sands. Habitat for these forests is decreasing and many associations are now rare.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These dry hammocks are dominated by Quercus geminata, and typically found on deep, infertile sands. Serenoa repens is a common shrub, occurring in both coastal and inland examples.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Includes coastal and similar inland vegetation dominated by Quercus geminata.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These broadleaf evergreen (or sclerophyll) forests are dominated by Quercus geminata. Serenoa repens is a common shrub.

Floristics: These forests are dominated by Quercus geminata. This alliance includes xeric maritime and inland hammocks of the northeastern coast of Florida, south at least to Cape Canaveral, and of the Florida Panhandle, and coastal areas of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Other characteristic species include Lyonia ferruginea, Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), Osmanthus americanus var. americanus, Persea borbonia, and Quercus myrtifolia. Characteristic shrubs may include Ilex vomitoria, Lyonia fruticosa, Serenoa repens, and Sideroxylon lanuginosum. Inland xeric hammocks are dominated by Quercus geminata, and may have other Quercus spp. The understory typically contains Ilex opaca, Serenoa repens, Smilax spp., Vaccinium arboreum, and Vaccinium stamineum. Sabal etonia is a characteristic shrub on the Lake Wales Ridge.

Dynamics:  This vegetation is resistant to disturbances such as fire, wind and drought. The leaves of Quercus geminata are boat-shaped and dead leaves hold water after rains; the leaf litter is quite fire-resistant. These areas have increased in dry uplands where winter or late-fall prescribed burning has been done.
Environmental Description:  These forests occur on bayside shores of the mainland coast and inland on dry, coarse sands. This alliance includes dry (sometimes called xeric) maritime hammocks dominated by Quercus geminata of the northeastern coast of Florida, south at least to Cape Canaveral, and of the Florida Panhandle. It also includes inland xeric hammocks dominated by Quercus geminata. These are called oak domes. It occurs in northern and central Florida, southern Georgia, and perhaps southern Alabama and South Carolina.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the southeastern United States from South Carolina (near the coast) through the Florida Peninsula and Panhandle to the Gulf Coast of Alabama. The range is coastal and near the coast, including the Lake Wales Ridge in Florida.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, FL, GA, SC


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.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.2 Live Oak - Texas Live Oak - Darlington Oak Forest Macrogroup M885 1.B.1.Na.2
Group 1.B.1.Na.2.b Sand Laurel Oak - Sand Live Oak - Water Oak Coastal Plain Forest Group G790 1.B.1.Na.2.b
Alliance A0052 Sand Live Oak - Saw Palmetto Dry Sclerophyll Forest Alliance A0052 1.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003564 Sand Live Oak / Farkleberry Forest CEGL003564 1.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003665 Water Oak - Sand Live Oak / Rusty Staggerbush - Saw Palmetto Forest CEGL003665 1.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL007019 Sand Live Oak / Saw Palmetto - Yaupon - (Gum Bully) Forest CEGL007019 1.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL007020 Sand Live Oak - (Live Oak) / Saw Palmetto - Coastal Plain Staggerbush Forest CEGL007020 1.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL007028 Live Oak / Farkleberry - Yaupon Forest CEGL007028 1.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL008599 Sand Live Oak / Scrub Palmetto Forest CEGL008599 1.B.1.Na.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Cabbage Palmetto: 74 (Eyre 1980)
>< Live Oak: 89 (Eyre 1980)
? Oak-bay forest (Sharitz 1975)
= Xeric Hammock (FNAI 2010a)
Concept Author(s): C.W. Nordman and M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2014)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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