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A1519 Serenoa repens / Aristida spp. Florida Dry Prairie Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This open shrubland alliance found on flat moderately to poorly drained sandy sites of southern Florida consists of nearly treeless, flat open grassy to shrubby expanses characterized by grasses such as Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Aristida purpurascens, Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon brachystachyus, and Eragrostis spp. with sparse to dense cover of low, scrubby Serenoa repens and scattered patches of other low shrubs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Saw Palmetto / Three-awn species Florida Dry Prairie Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Florida Dry Prairie Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is endemic to Florida and occurs in the southern portion of the state on flat, moderately to poorly drained sandy sites. These areas become saturated in the summer or inundated with several centimeters of water for short periods after heavy summer rains. This open shrubland alliance consists of nearly treeless, open grassy to shrubby expanses including Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Aristida purpurascens, Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon brachystachyus, and Eragrostis spp. with sparse to dense cover of low, scrubby Serenoa repens and scattered patches of low shrubs including Quercus pumila, Asimina spp., Ilex glabra, Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, Vaccinium myrsinites, and Morella cerifera. An occasional tree may occur (less than 2 trees/1.0 ha), typically Pinus elliottii var. densa or Sabal palmetto.
This alliance is endemic to southern Florida on flat, moderately to poorly drained sandy sites. These areas become saturated in the summer or inundated with several centimeters of water for short periods after summer rains. This alliance is threatened by lack of fire, urban development, use as unimproved pasture or conversion to improved pasture, agriculture, and citrus groves. Historical acreage of this alliance has greatly decreased, with few large tracts remaining and few occurrences of high ecological quality. This vegetation is closely related floristically to mesic pine flatwoods, except that it has virtually no tree layer. The open structure and species composition are maintained by frequent fire and the summer high water table. The natural fire frequency is thought to be every one to two years. There are numerous references in historical accounts of the Florida Dry Prairies.
This alliance is endemic to southern Florida on flat, moderately to poorly drained sandy sites. These areas become saturated in the summer or inundated with several centimeters of water for short periods after summer rains. This alliance is threatened by lack of fire, urban development, use as unimproved pasture or conversion to improved pasture, agriculture, and citrus groves. Historical acreage of this alliance has greatly decreased, with few large tracts remaining and few occurrences of high ecological quality. This vegetation is closely related floristically to mesic pine flatwoods, except that it has virtually no tree layer. The open structure and species composition are maintained by frequent fire and the summer high water table. The natural fire frequency is thought to be every one to two years. There are numerous references in historical accounts of the Florida Dry Prairies.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance consists of nearly treeless, open grassy to shrubby expanses including Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Aristida purpurascens, Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon brachystachyus, and Eragrostis spp. with sparse to dense cover of low, scrubby Serenoa repens and scattered patches of a variety of other low shrubs.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is the same as Dry Prairie (FNAI 2010a). There is a wealth of information in Noss (2006).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Physiognomy of this type can vary from grass-dominated to dominated by the low (<1 m tall) palm Serenoa repens with very widely scattered trees. Physiognomy is influenced by past and current management activities, including grazing, fire frequency and season. The relative prevalence of shrubs (primarily Serenoa repens) and herbs (primarily grasses such as Aristida beyrichiana) is variable. Some scientists believe that prior to fire exclusion, these areas were grassier and that Serenoa repens has increased with less fire.
Floristics: This open shrubland alliance consists of nearly treeless, open grassy to shrubby expanses including Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Aristida purpurascens, Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon brachystachyus, and Eragrostis spp. with sparse to dense cover of low, scrubby Serenoa repens and scattered patches of low shrubs including Quercus pumila, Asimina spp., Ilex glabra, Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, Vaccinium myrsinites, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera). An occasional tree may occur (less than 2 trees/1.0 ha), typically Pinus elliottii var. densa or Sabal palmetto. Other typical plants include Andropogon capillipes (= Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus), Axonopus fissifolius, Sorghastrum secundum, Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum (= Schizachyrium stoloniferum), Pityopsis graminifolia, Eryngium aromaticum, Liatris spp., Pterocaulon pycnostachyum, Piloblephis rigida, Lilium catesbaei, Sabatia brevifolia, Polygala spp., Solidago spp., and Hyptis alata.
Dynamics: This habitat is historically prone to frequent wildfires during early lightning season (April-June), followed by frequent summer thunderstorms and higher levels of soil saturation, associated with the subtropical climate. These factors, in combination serve to inhibit the survival of trees in the dry prairie landscape (Platt et al. 2006a). This alliance is threatened rangewide by urban development, use as unimproved pasture or conversion to improved pasture, agriculture, and citrus groves. Historical acreage of this alliance has greatly decreased, with few large tracts remaining and few occurrences of high ecological quality. This vegetation is closely related floristically to mesic pine flatwoods, except that it has no tree layer. The open structure and species composition is maintained by frequent fire and the summer high water table (Platt et al. 2006a). The natural fire frequency is thought to be every one to two years. There are numerous references in historical accounts of the Florida Dry Prairies (Noss 2006).
Environmental Description: This alliance is endemic to southern Florida and occurs on flat, moderately to poorly drained sandy sites. These areas become saturated in the summer or inundated with several centimeters of water for short periods after summer rains. Soil series known to support this community type are Myakka (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric Alaquod), Wabasso (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Alfic Alaquod), Oldsmar (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Alfic Arenic Alaquod), and Immokalee (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Arenic Alaquod).
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in south-central and southwestern peninsular Florida, in three areas north and west of Lake Okeechobee.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: FL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899148
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.b Saw Palmetto / Beyrich''s Three-awn Dry Prairie Group | G176 | 2.B.2.Nh.1.b |
| Alliance | A1519 Saw Palmetto / Three-awn species Florida Dry Prairie Shrubland Alliance | A1519 | 2.B.2.Nh.1.b |
| Association | CEGL004236 Saw Palmetto / Beyrich''s Three-awn Shrubland | CEGL004236 | 2.B.2.Nh.1.b |
Concept Lineage: A.1519 with edits. (Pasted in from A.1519 and then edited in track changes.)
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Dry Prairie (Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990)
= Dry Prairie (FNAI 2010a)
= Saw-palmetto or dry prairie (Davis 1943)
= Dry Prairie (FNAI 2010a)
= Saw-palmetto or dry prairie (Davis 1943)
- Abrahamson, W. G., and D. C. Hartnett. 1990. Pine flatwoods and dry prairies. Pages 103-147 in: R. L. Myers and J. L. Ewel, editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press, Orlando.
- Davis, J. H., Jr. 1943. The natural features of southern Florida, especially the vegetation, and the Everglades. Florida Department of Conservation, Geologic Survey. Geologic Bulletin No. 25. Tallahassee, FL.
- Duever, L. C., J. F. Meeder, and M. J. Duever. 1982. Ecological portion: Florida peninsula natural region theme study. National Audubon Society Ecosystem Research Unit, Naples, FL.
- FNAI [Florida Natural Areas Inventory]. 2010a. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. 228 pp. [https://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm]
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- McPherson, B. F. 1984. The Big Cypress Swamp. Pages 69-78 in: P. J. Gleason, editor. Environments of South Florida: Present and past. II. Miami Geologic Society, Coral Gables, FL.
- Noss, R. F., editor. 2006. Land of Fire and Water: The Florida Dry Prairie Ecosystem. Proceedings of the Florida Dry Prairie Conference. October 5-7, 2004. Chateau Elan - Sebring, FL.
- Platt, W. J., J. M. Huffman, M. G. Slocum, and B. Beckage. 2006a. Fire regimes and trees in Florida dry prairie landscapes. Pages 3-13 in: R. F. Noss, editor. Land of Fire and Water: The Florida Dry Prairie Ecosystem. Proceedings of the Florida Dry Prairie Conference. October 5-7, 2004. Chateau Elan - Sebring, FL.