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A0491 Pinus elliottii var. densa Rockland Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes pine rocklands of southern Florida with Chrysobalanus icaco, Coccothrinax argentata, Ilex cassine, Pinus elliottii var. densa, Sideroxylon salicifolium, Tetrazygia bicolor, and Leucothrinax morrisii, with many rare and endemic plants growing on limestone, or on thin sandy soils over limestone, on the Miami Ridge, Florida Keys, and in Big Cypress.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Florida Slash Pine Rockland Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: South Florida Pine Rockland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes pinelands of extreme southern Florida growing on limestone, or on thin sandy soils over limestone. The uniqueness of the flora associated with this type has long been recognized, including the number of endemic and West Indian species that are present in examples. It has been estimated that nearly one-third of the taxa found in this alliance are restricted to it, including half of south Florida''s endemic plants. Pinus elliottii var. densa is the dominant and characteristic pine in examples of this alliance on the southern Florida Peninsula. The understory vegetation consists of many hardwood species, including a number with tropical origins, and the herbaceous flora is species-rich and fire-adapted. Shrubs include Chrysobalanus icaco, Coccothrinax argentata, Ilex cassine, Sideroxylon salicifolium, Tetrazygia bicolor, and Leucothrinax morrisii. A different suite of shrubs is found on the Miami Ridge than in the Florida Keys. For example, Leucothrinax morrisii is a typical shrub only in the Florida Keys. More common and representative (if not diagnostic) species on the mainland and Florida Keys include Guettarda scabra, Guettarda elliptica, Dodonaea viscosa, Serenoa repens, and Byrsonima lucida.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Pinus elliottii var. densa is the dominant and characteristic canopy tree and is nearly always present in every stand. A suite of broadleaf evergreen shrub species and herb species could serve as diagnostic species, given that it is estimated that nearly one-third of the taxa found in this alliance are restricted to it, including half of south Florida''s endemic plants. Diagnostic tropical shrubs include Coccothrinax argentata, Leucothrinax morrisii, Sideroxylon salicifolium, Chrysobalanus icaco, Ilex cassine, and Tetrazygia bicolor. A different suite of shrubs is found on the Miami Ridge than in the Florida Keys. For example, Leucothrinax morrisii is a typical shrub only in the Florida Keys. More common and representative (if not diagnostic) species on the mainland and Florida Keys include Guettarda scabra, Guettarda elliptica, Dodonaea viscosa, Serenoa repens, and Byrsonima lucida. For now, an environmental modifier "Rockland" has been added; "Rockland" is a common term for the limestone-influenced habitats in south Florida where this vegetation occurs.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These communities bear a strong resemblance to the rocky pinelands in the Caribbean, particularly in the eastern Bahama Archipelago on Grand Bahama, Abaco, New Providence, and Andros islands. These Bahamian pinelands have a canopy of Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis, but are similar to the South Florida types in substrate, physiognomy, and tropical understory species (Snyder et al. 1990). Not included in this group are the southwestern Florida Pinus elliottii var. densa-dominated flatwoods found on sands that are not influenced by limestone. These flatwoods tend to have Serenoa repens, an evergreen palm, as a common low shrub, and Aristida beyrichiana as a common grass, and they lack the tropical broadleaf evergreen shrubs characteristic of the pine rockland.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The pine rockland vegetation is characterized by an open canopy of the needle-leaved evergreen conifer Pinus elliottii var. densa with a diversity of shrubs and herbaceous plants.

Floristics: Pinus elliottii var. densa is the characteristic and often dominant pine species. It has been estimated that nearly one-third of the taxa found in this alliance are restricted to it, including half of south Florida''s endemic plants (Stout and Marion 1993). Shrubs include Coccothrinax argentata, Leucothrinax morrisii (= Thrinax morrisii), Sideroxylon salicifolium, Chrysobalanus icaco, Ilex cassine, and Tetrazygia bicolor. A different suite of shrubs is found on the Miami Ridge than in the Florida Keys. For example, Leucothrinax morrisii is a typical shrub only in the Florida Keys. More common and representative (if not diagnostic) species on the mainland and Florida Keys are species such as Guettarda scabra, Guettarda elliptica, Dodonaea viscosa, Serenoa repens, and Byrsonima lucida (T. Armentano pers. comm. 2003). More than 250 native herbaceous plant species have been recorded in the pine rockland; they are a mixture of tropical and temperate species with a high percentage of endemic plants (Snyder et al. 1990).

Dynamics:  In the absence of fire, this alliancemay be replaced by hardwood species within several decades (Stout and Marion 1993). The southern part of the Florida Peninsula is prone to hurricanes, which can be severe (i.e., Hurricane Andrew in 1992).
Environmental Description:  The pine rockland occurs on areas influenced by limestone. In many areas the limestone protrudes above the ground and has an uneven surface with holes and higher areas. The holes can hold water and contribute to the diversity of small microhabitats within the pine rockland. Climate: Subtropical, with a dry season in the North American winter, and a rainy season in the North American summer. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Along the southeast coast of Florida, this alliance occurs on Miami Oolitic Limestone, while in the Big Cypress region (southwest Florida), it is found on outcrops of Tamiami Limestone.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the southern Florida Peninsula. Davis (1943) mapped this vegetation, which occurs primarily on the Miami ridge bordering the Everglades, with disjunct examples found in the Big Cypress Swamp. In the Florida Keys, it is found on Big Pine Key, No Name Key, Little Pine Key, Cudjoe Key, and Upper Sugarloaf Key.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  FL


Confidence Level: Low

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.1 Longleaf Pine / Pineland Three-awn Woodland Macrogroup M007 1.B.1.Na.1
Group 1.B.1.Na.1.a Florida Slash Pine / Florida Silver Palm - White Bully Woodland Group G005 1.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A0491 Florida Slash Pine Rockland Woodland Alliance A0491 1.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003532 Florida Slash Pine / Florida Silver Palm - Key Thatch Palm Woodland CEGL003532 1.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003534 Florida Slash Pine / Cabbage Palmetto / Saw Palmetto Woodland CEGL003534 1.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003535 Florida Slash Pine / White Bully - Coco-plum - Dahoon Woodland CEGL003535 1.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003538 Florida Slash Pine / Saw Palmetto - Florida Clover-ash - Wild Guave Woodland CEGL003538 1.B.1.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2016)

Author of Description: C.W. Nordman and M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-24-16
  • Armentano, Tom. Personal communication. National Park Service, Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL.
  • 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, 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.
  • 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. 1973. Vegetation map of the Big Cypress National Preserve. Figure 5.1 [back cover sleeve] in: M. J. Duever, 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.
  • 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.
  • Stout, I. J., and W. R. Marion. 1993. Pine flatwoods and xeric pine forests of the southern (lower) coastal plain. Pages 373-446 in: W. H. Martin, S. G. Boyce, and A. C. Echternacht, editors. 1993. Biodiversity of the southeastern United States: Lowland terrestrial communities. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
  • USFWS [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]. 1998b. South Florida multi-species recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Florida Ecological Services Office. [http://www.fws.gov/verobeach/Programs/Recovery/vbms5.html]