Physiognomy and Structure: This is an evergreen broadleaf forest with a palm component. Some examples are affected by salt spray; these examples display more-or-less wind- and salt spray-sculpted vegetation. Some more protected examples have relatively closed and diverse canopies and well-developed shrub strata; vines are often conspicuous and abundant, but the herbaceous stratum is typically sparse and low in diversity.

Floristics: This alliance includes communities which are dominated and characterized by Quercus virginiana, and often containing Sabal palmetto and Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola within their ranges. Vegetation of this alliance most typically lies just landward of maritime shrub zones. More protected examples have relatively closed and diverse canopies and well-developed shrub strata; vines are often conspicuous and abundant, but the herbaceous stratum is typically sparse and low in diversity. Extending south from the vicinity of Cape Fear, North Carolina, the canopy is dominated by Quercus virginiana and Pinus taeda with some Sabal palmetto. Farther south, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and Sabal palmetto become more prominent. In mid-Florida, tropical species begin to dominate the understory while temperate species retain canopy dominance. South of Martin County, Florida, tropical species such as Bursera simaruba, Sideroxylon foetidissimum, and Ficus aurea begin to dominate the forest canopy. The more tropically influenced examples may contain shrubs such as Eugenia axillaris, Myrsine cubana (= Myrsine floridana), and Coccoloba uvifera on the west coast of Florida, and Myrcianthes fragrans, Ardisia escallonoides, and Psychotria nervosa on the east coast.

The alliance also includes tropical/temperate maritime hammocks of the east coast of Florida, in mid-peninsula, characteristically with oak canopy and tropical subcanopy, as well as temperate maritime hammocks of the northeast and Panhandle coasts of Florida. Vegetation of this alliance may be found on xeric to mesic sites, often occurring as linear strands behind frontal dunes. The alliance also includes some dry hammocks, found from Florida to North Carolina. In these examples, Quercus virginiana is dominant, and sometimes Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola is present in the canopy. Frequently small Cladina - Cladonia-dominated openings are present. On small hammocks in salt marshes, Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola, Baccharis halimifolia, and Morella cerifera are characteristic. Another type of xeric hammock contains Serenoa repens under a Quercus virginiana canopy. On Amelia Island, Florida, Magnolia grandiflora is characteristically in the understory, increasing after cutting or with greater shell content in the soil. Some Mississippi vegetation included here is found on coastal sand ridges along inlets of marsh channels.

This alliance also includes upland palm savannas dominated by open to scattered canopy of Sabal palmetto. In southern Florida, vegetation of this alliance occurs on similar sites to Pinus elliottii var. densa communities but with more frequent fire (2- to 3-year return time) favoring the palm species Sabal palmetto and Serenoa repens.

Dynamics:  These forests are prone to disturbance from high winds and storm surge during hurricanes, which can flood these areas, knock down and break trees and cause shifts in the coastal sands where these forests grow. The vegetation frequently exhibits effects of wind-pruning. Some examples are affected by salt spray; these examples display more-or-less wind- and salt spray-sculpted vegetation. Other upland examples are not affected by salt spray and correspondingly differ in composition and stature. Palm woodlands in southern Florida are subject to frequent fire (2- to 3-year return time) which favors the palm species Sabal palmetto and Serenoa repens instead of Pinus elliottii var. densa.