A VASCULAR PLANT INVENTORY OF STARKEY WILDERNESS PRESERVE, PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA

2006·14.2 MB·English

by  Emily Ferguson

A VASCULAR PLANT INVENTORY OF STARKLY
WILDERNESS
PRESERVE, PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA
Emily Ferguson RWunderlin
Richard
253 River Plaza #52 Department of Biology
Dr.,
1
USA
Sacramento,
California 95833, of South
University Florida
USA
Tampa,
Florida 33620-5200,
ABSTRACT
Starkey Wilderness Preserve, owned and managed by the Southwest Florida Water Management
Dis-
trict, contains 7,739.5 hectares with 18 plant communities. A Floristic inventory was conducted on
449.2 hectares within the property which consists of II community types and considered as rep-
is
The May
resentative of the entire Preserve. objective of this study, conducted from 2003 October
to
was
2004, to compile a list of the vascular plant taxa found to be used by the Southwest Florida
m
Water Management management A
District to help their regimes. total of 483 taxa were collected,
representing 104 families, and 271 genera. 0{ these, 444 are native taxa, 16 Florida endemic taxa, 39
non-native taxa, 12 endangered, threatened or commercially exploited taxa, and 33 county records.
Each plant community described and an annotated of the vascular plant taxa presented.
is list
is
RESUMEN
La reserva de Starkey Wilderness, gestionada por Southwest Florida Water Management
el District,
tiene 7,739.5 hectareas con 18 comnnidades vegetales, Se realizo un invcntario floristico en 449.2
hectareasde la reserva que contiene 11 tiposdc comunidades que se consideran represcntativos de
y
la Reserva entera. El objetivo de este cstudio, realizado desde mayo de 2003 hasta octubre de 2004,
fue compijar una lista de taxa de plantas vasculares usadas por Southwest Florida Water Manage-
el
ment
District para ayudar en su regimen dc gcstion. Se colectaron un total de 483 taxa, que representan
104 lamilias, y 271 generos. De ellos, 444 son taxa natives, 16 taxa endemicos de Florida, 39 taxa
aloctonos, 12 taxa en peligro, amenazados o cxplotados comercialmente, 33 citas del condado. Se
y
describen las comunidades vegetales y se presenta una lista comentada de los taxa de plantas
vasculares.
INTRODUCTION
Florida is a unique state with a relatively flat topography and generally fast
draining soils. These conditions would presumably lead to a flora with low di-
km
versity, but that not the case. The state about 1000 long and spans about
is is
6.5" latitude resulting in a diverse flora consisting of nearly 4,200 taxa of native
&
and
naturalized non-native vascular species (Wunderlin fiansen 2003), the
third most diverse in the United States. As Florida also the fourth most popu-
is
lated state, important to work to conserve and protect the
it is state's flora.
work
Several agencies in Florida to secure large tracts of land in an effort to
development and One
prevent
to establish areas of conservation. of these, the
Southwest Water Management (SWFWMD), owns many
Florida
District par-
management
cels of land for a variety of water practices including the protection
635-659.2006
SIDA22{1):
BRIT.ORG/5IDA 22(1)
636
and development of potable water supplies, aquifer recharge, water quality en-
hancement, restoration and protection of natural systems, and structural flood
The property which the inventory was conducted owned and
control. in is
SWFWN4D.
managed by The results of this research are intended to help
SWFWMD
make knowledge-based management plans property
for
its
Overview
Site
—
Physical Location. Starkey Wilderness Preserve located in southwestern
is
km
Pasco County Florida, near the west coast of central Florida (Fig. 6.4
1). It is
km
Main
northeast of Seven Springs and 4.4 northwest of Odessa. access to the
km A
Road
Preserve Wilderness Road approximately 5.6 from State 54. por-
is
considered represent the major habitats found within the entire Preserve
tion to
was inventory. The Starkey Wilderness Preserve included
selected for this is
within Sections 1-17, 21-24, and 26-27, Township 26 South, Range 17 East and
Sections 10-11, 13-15, 22-27, and 33-36, Township 25 South, Range 17 East. The
and
entire Preserve comprises approximately 7,739.5 hectares consists of 18 plant
The
communities. Of occur within the study study consisting
these, 11 site. site,
and Township
of 449.2 hectares, includes portions of Sections 3-4, 8-10, 15-17,
26 South, Range 17 East. The boundaries of the study site comprise a power line
an unpaved
artery along the western edge, a paved biking trail at the north,
road running due south along the eastern edge, and the Anclote River along the
south.
—
humans who
The Wilder-
Early Inhabitanis. lived near the Starkey
first
who
ness Preser\'e were the Safety Harbor Culture or the Tocobaga, inhabited
was
the Florida Gulf coast (kawson et 1981). The period of their inhabitance
al.
The
from 900 A.D. through the eady eighteenth century (Milanich 1994). settle-
ment extended from Withlacoochee River (north and boundary
area the east
Citrus County) south the Charlotte Harbor area (Charlotte County).
of to
Tocobaga arrowheads have been unearthed on the Starkey property suggest-
ing their use of the land to hunt (kawson et 1981). Approximately 33 prehis-
al.
toric archaeological sites have been identified as temporary campsites for hunt-
(SWFWMD
ing within the Starkey Wilderness Preserve 1990). Hunters on tlic
from two The work-
Preserve could have originated different a tlint
sites. first,
km
and
shop located 3.2 north of the Anclote River along the coast; the second,
mouth
Tarpon Springs the of the Anclote River (Willey 1949). In the eigh-
at
much
teenth century after the Spanish established themselves in ot the state,
the remaining Tocobaga are believed to have joined the Creek tribes irom fur-
new
moved from by
ther north as they south seeking refuge persecution the
settlers.
The land now included the Starkey Wilderness Preserve passed from
in
begmmng
Government and ownership
the Federal to the State of Florida private
1856 (kawson Principal land uses were turpentine production
in et al. 1981). for
^' i
FERGUSON AND WUNDERLINJNVENTORY
OF STARKEY WILDERNESS
PERSERVE,FLORIDA
637
A
i
J
1
V
. ;p=
Legend
Study Area
Roads
Trails
Stream
Soil types
Adamsville
fine saiid
Basingerfine
sand
[
Cassia fine sand
Chobee
soils
Immokalee
fine sai^d
Mj-akka fine sand
Paola sand
fine
Pomdlo
_J fine sand
Pomona
fine sand
mucky
Sellers loamy
soil
J
Smyrna
sand
fine
[
Wauchula
fine sand
250 500
1.000 1,500 2.000
h'feters
J. AAocation
Fig of the Jay B.Starkey Wilderness Preserve, Pasco County, Florida. B. Jay B.Starkey Wilderness Preserve
with outline of the study area. C. Plant communities in the Jay B.Starkey Wilderness Preserve study area.
BRIT.ORG/SIDA 22(1)
638
and cypress and pine lumber In 1937,Jay B. Starkey and his partners, Ernest,
for
(Cunningham-
The
Howard Cunningham, bought 6,070 hectares. C-S
and
Dave,
As
Starkey) Ranch was used to raise cattle by both lamilies. land values in-
sometimes
land were sold
creased and cattle yields decreased, portions of the
who
outlived his partners, finally sold the cattle
developers. Jay Starkey,
to B.
The Starkey
and equipment his son Starkey,Jr senior st
the to B.
Jay.
World W;
such
Over items
converted about 30 hectares into an orange grove. the years,
II,
pme and were provide extra income. In 1975, as
stumps, resin sold to
timber,
as
m
decided preserve
population increased the county, Jay B. Starkey, Sr to
the
SWFWMD
SWFWMD
SWFWMD
SWFWMD
and
The has purchased additional property since then the
2004).
now comprises approximately 7,739.5 hectares.
Wilderness Preserve
Starkey
&
humid and (Chen
Climate.—The chmate of Pasco County subtropical
is
and
dry winters
Gerber The constant cyclical pattern consists of cool,
1990).
(SWFWMD
C
warm, humid summers. Annual mean temperature 22' f988).
is
mean
monthly
During winter months, December through February, the
the
once
temperature 16° The temperature will usually drop to freezing at least
C.
is
mean
monthly
Durmg summer months, from June September, the
to
the
a year.
temperature about 27° C, wath highs reaching about 3.3' C.
is
between rainy
Pasco County varies seasonally, oscillating the
Rainfall in
(SWFWMD
J
cm month. This accounts
per
September, the area receives about 18.4 of rainfall
including
about half of the rainiall for the year. In spring, central Florida,
for
than
harsher and dry drought-like conditions
Pasco County, experiences longer,
The amounts
(Chen Gerber high
northern southern Florida &r 1990).
either or
fromjune September are attributed to the convective clouds,
of rain that to
fall
and storms. By the beginning of October, the rainfall de-
sea breezes, tropical
summer
from months, indicating the
by about 50 percent that of the
creases
beginning of the dry period.
Geology.—The geology underlying the Starkey Wilderness Preserve is the
Suwannee Formation deposited during the Oligocene epoch of the Tertiary
period (34 to 24 MYBP) (Scott et al. 2001). This formation is a yellow to white,
porous
very
limestone (Wetterhall 1964). a for-
fine-grained is
fossililerous, It
Suwannee Forma-
mation contains the Upper Floridan Aquifer. Below the
that
during Eocene
and Avon Formations, both deposited the
Ocala
tion are the Par1<
epoch of the Tertiary period (55 to 34 MYBP). Both of the lower formations are
important parts of the Floridan aquiler
also
—
The domi-
occur within the study
Soils. Twelve distinct soil types site.
FERGUSON AND WUNDERLIN, INVENTORY OF STARKEY WILDERNESS PERSERVE, FLORIDA 639
nant types Chobee, frequently flooded Adamsville sand
arc: (22%); fine (19%);
Myakka sand Immokalee sand and mucky loamy
fine (13%); fine (11.5%); Sellers
Pomona
fine sand (10%). Other soil types present are fine sand Pomello
(8%));
Wauchula
fine sand, to 5 percent slope (6%); fine sand, to 5 percent slope
Smyrna
(4%); Cassia fine sand, to 5 percent slope 0%)] fine sand (1.5%); Paola
fine sand (1%); and Basinger fine sand (1%) (Stankey 1982).
—
Topography and Hydrology. Starkey Wilderness Preserve located in the
is
Gulf Coastal Lowlands physiographic province, which characterized by low
is
Withm
elevations and poor drainage. the study the elevation ranges from
site,
m
9.1 to 16.8 (uses 1974). The majority of the site has an elevation of 10.7 to 12.2
swamp
m. The and river loodplain area ranges from to 10.7 m.
9.1
f
km
The
Anclote River, located primarily in Pasco County, 27.4 Ion
is
km
withm
About
the Anclote. excluding the south branch, the Starkey
8.1 of is
(SWFWMD
The
Wilderness Preserve southern border the study
1990). for site
km
an approximately 3.2 section of the Anclote River The Anclote
is (fig. is
1).
characterized as a slow moving, turbid, acidic, black water stream. The chan-
m
nel not more than 6 wide any point along the southern boundary of the
at
is
study During low flow the stream confined the channel. As the
stage, to
site. is
rainy season the Anclote overflows banks inundating the loodplain
starts, its f
When
and remains two months.
forest, at flood stage for to three the river over-
flows banks, the w^ater flowing into the loodplain removes waste and pro-
its f
community
vides nutrients to the floodplain The sediment load settles out as
the water moves out of the channel. Heavier sediments are deposited first closer
to the channel due to their weight, and finer, lighter sediments settle out more
away
from
slowly further the channel.
—
With
Disturbances Affecting the Study the exception of the effects
Site.
of cattle grazing, lumbering, and other minor events, the study area has under-
gone few changes. The western boundary of the study site is the right-of-way
m
for the Florida Power Corporation electrical transmission line. This 46 wide
(SWFWMD
was maintain
artery constructed in the 1970s 1990). In order to the
SWFWMD
right-of-way the area frequently mechanically cleared. In addition,
is
pump
buik 14 active production water wells within the Preserve. These wells
New
water from the Preserve to provide potable w^ater for the city of Port Richey.
An
Three production wells occur within the study approximately 3,240-
site.
hectace portion of the Preserve, the Jay Starkey Wilderness Park, open to
B. is
number
the public for a of recreational opportunities. In order to provide these
SWFWMD
recreational activities, constructed a paved road, hikmg/biking
A
camp
and
horse riding primitive semi-primitive road beds.
trails, trails, sites,
number
of these features occur within the study site as w^ell.
The most recent disruption within the study site was a wildfire that was
believed to have started from a lightning strike June 2004. After persisting
3,
through the night, the wildfire consumed approximately 162 hectares on June
640 BRlT.ORG/SiDA 22(1)
band
primarily in a through the center of the study This occurred
site. fire
4,
towards the end of the research collection period and thus had impact on
little
data
collection.
—
Management The management and implemented
Regimes. plan devised
SWFWMD
by (1990) includes several conceptual land uses. The most impor-
manage The
tant function tor the District to the well field withdrawals. con-
is
New
sumptive use permit renewed in 1979 allows the city of Port Richey to
withdraw 30 to 57 million liters per day from the 14 wells within the Preserve
(SWFWMD,
This water withdrawal has produced shorter hydroperiods,
1990).
lower peak water levels, increased rates of succession into wetland areas, and
(SWFWMD
unusual
plant associations
1990).
SWFWMD
To manage areas of historical significance, protects them from
disturbance by keeping hiking and horse-riding away from them.
trails
SWFWMD
has opened the Preserve for "low intensity resource-based" recre-
(SWFWMD
ation by building facilities for local use 1990). These recreational
managed They
are by Pasco County. include hiking, biking, horse
facilities
riding, birding, camping, and any other non-motorized The hiking
activities.
biking trails are separate from the horse riding trails to avoid safety hazards.
SWFWMD
Land management number
prerctices exercised by include a of
ways improve The
to or preserve the equality of the property. District uses pre-
scribed burning to conserve various communities and to restore habitats. Dur-
summer when
ing the months, there greater thunderstorm higher
activity,
is
SWFWMD
way which
lightning frequency giving to natural wildfires contains
and controls. The District normally burns during the winter months in order
(SWFWMD
and
to limit control fires 1990).
A
population of feral hogs has disturbed the soil while rooting, causing
damage some and
to habitats previously preserved historical sites. Part of the
management
plan to reduce or minimize their impact.
is
METHODS
May
Vascular plant specimen vouchers were collected from 2003 October
to
9 004 using standard field collection and herbarium techniques. Notes were
made
for each collection regarding the habitat and frequency of occurrence.
One complete of voucher specimens was deposited the University of South
set at
Herbarium The Wunderlm and Wunderlin and
Florida (USF). floras of (1998)
Hansen
(2003) were utilized for identifications, followed by verification with
USF
specimens herbarium.
in the
Vascular plants of special interest include those taxa that are Federal and/
and by
or State listed species exotic species listed the Florida Exotic Pest Plant
Council (FLEPPC 2005). Species unreported Pasco County determined by
for as
Wunderlin and Hansen
(2005) are noted.
The community
plant classification for the study site follows that of Florida
FERGUSON AND WUNDERLINJNVENTORY
OF STARKEY WILDERNESS PERSERVE, FLORIDA
641
Natural Areas Inventory (FN AI The
1990). plant communities are described and
dominant
include the species found within each
layer (overstory, understory
and
herbaceous ground
layer).
AND
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
A
483
total of taxa were collected within the study within Starkey Wilder-
site
The
ness Preserve. flora comprised of 104 families and 271 genera
is (Table
1).
The
with number
families the greatest of taxa Asteraceae Poaceae
are:
(66), (62),
Cyperaceae (39), and Fabaceae (28). The genera with the most abundant taxa
Rhynchospora
Quercus Hypericum
are: Andropogon Ludwigia
(12), (10),
(9), (8),
and
Dichanthelium
(8),
(8).
About 92%
of the flora in the study site is native. Sixteen (3%) of the spe-
found endemic
cies are to Florida. Four of the 39 non-native taxa are by
listed
the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC
2005). Thirty-three taxa
are
&
records Pasco County (Wunderlin Hansen
for 2005). Twelve taxa are
listed as
&
endangered,
threatened, commercially
or exploited in Florida (Coile Gar-
No
land
2003). Federally taxa occur on
listed the
site.
Starkey Wilderness
Preserve consists of 18 plant communities. Eleven
of
these occur within the study site. Comparing the Preserve with the study
site
shows
study
the site is representative of the Preserve (Table The plant com-
2).
munities
that fall outside the boundaries of the study are not dominant ones
site
4%
and
contribute only Thus
of the total area of the Preserve. the plant com-
list
piled for the study site is fairly representative for the majority of the Preserve.
NATURAL
COMMUNITIES
The
communities
classification for plant found within the study following
site
the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI
guidelines 2004)
1990, are discussed
below from
the lowest elevation type to the highest followed by the ruderal
areas.
—
Floodplain The
Forest. floodplain wetland
forest a forested that con-
is
sists of 64.3 hectares adjacent to the River Flooding closely linked to the rain
is
summer
events that occur throughout the months. The Chobee
(Stankey
soil
is
1982).
The dominant make
up
tree species that the overstory of the floodplain
Acer ruhrum,Carpinus
forest carolimana.Fraxinuscaroliniana,
d.re
Ilex cassine,
Nyssa
sylvatica var. hiflora, Persea palustris, Quercus Quercus
laurifolia,
virginiana, Sahal palmetto, Taxodium distichum, Ulmus and Ulmus
alata,
Some
americana.
of these are buttressed due to the long hydroperiods. Note-
worthy
epiphytic species are Encyclia tampensis, Epidendrum conopseum,
Pleopeltis polypodioides, and Tillandsia spp. The woody understory includes
Berchemia
scandens, Campsis Cephalanthus
radicans,
occidentalism Psychotria
nervosa, Psychotria sulzneri, and Toxicodendron radicans. The herbaceous
ground number
layer consists of a of pteridophytes including Blechnum
BRIT.ORG/SIDA
22(1)
642
Osmunda
Osmunda cinnamomea, Thdypteris interrupter
serrulatum, regalis,
Table Synopsis of the vascular plants found in the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve study area.
1
.
Genera Families Endemics Non-native Co. Records
Taxa
2
Pteridophytes 13 9 7
1
Gymnosperms
7 4 3
24 17 14
Monocotyledons 164 2
71
299 187 70 4 21 17
Dicotyledons
483 271 104 16 39 33
Totals
Table Summary of the plant communities in the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve and the study
2.
area.
SWP Community SWP SA
Community SA Plant
Plant
Oak Scrub 70.4
Marsh 101.2
Basin
Swamp Pine Plantation 22.2
Basin 1,422.1 61.
Upland Lake 10.9 Ruderal and Disturbed 888.3 0.4
Clastic
Marsh Sand Pine Scrub 206.0 20.2
Depression 48.6 2.0
Dome Swamp 275.6 34.4
234.7 10.5 Sandhill
Scrubby Flatwoods 331.4 40.5
Dry Prairie 0.8
Wet Flatwoods 79.3
Floodplain Forest 746.2 64.3
Hammock Wet
40.9 4.1
Hydric Prairie
.3
Hammock
227.0
Mesic Flatwoods 3,005.6 207. Xeric 4.1
common
Carexgigan-
Woodwardia arcolata/dnd Woodwardia virginka. Also are
tcci.HypoxiscunissiiJrishexagona.Rhynchosporamiliacc^^^
A
Spiranthes odorata. non-native species found along the
triglomerata, anci
Urena
unimproved trails nito the floodplain forest is lohata.
—
A swamp
Swamp. irregularly-shaped depression
Basin basin a large
is
ramy may connected
although during the season be
that not part of a river, it
is
flow This region vegetated by species similar to the
via surface to the river is
mucky loamy
Chobee and
floodplain The soils in the study site are Sellers
forest.
both frequently inundated with water.
fine sand (Stankey 1982); of these are
basm swamp. The com-
The study contains 6L5 hectares of largest of this
site
munity type the study located in the middle of the lower half of the
in site is
was probably an oxbow originating from the Anclote River.
site;
it
The dominant overstory species include Acer ruhrum, Carpinus
Gordonia
Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus caroliniana, lasianthus,
caroliniana,
palustris.Taxodium distichum,
cassine.Nyssa syhaticavB.r. hiJlora.Pcrsea
Ilex
woody
Ulmus and Ulmus americana. The dominant understory species
alata,
Cephalanthus
are occ
i/<
Amphicarpum muhlcnhergianum,
ceous ground layer consists primarily of
FERGUSON AND WUNDERLIN, INVENTORY OF STARKEY WILDERNESS PRESERVE, FLORIDA 643
Carex Cladium jamaicense, Cyperus Eleocharis Eriocaidon
spp., spp., spp.,
decangiilarejuncus Lcersia hexandra, Panicum hcmitomon, Pdtandra
spp.,
Pontedcria Rhexia Saururus
virginica, cordata, spp. Sagittaria
lancifolia,
swamp
and The number
cernuiis, Scleria spp. basin also contains a of epiphytic
such
species as Pleopeltis polypodioides, Tillandsia rccurvata, Tillandsia
and
simulata, Tillandsia usneoic/es, Tillandsia xfloridana.
—
Dome Dome Swamps
Swamp. are (ound throughout the study The
site.
dome swamp.
study site contains 10.5 hectares of These circular to oblong de-
mucky
loamy
pressions contain Sellers fine sand, a very poorly-drained
soil
An
type (Stankey 1982). impermeable clay layer beneath the helps main-
soil
tain water levels in these depressions. The depression due to the soils slump-
is
ing into sinkholes formed in the limestone rock. Most of the water found in the
swamp
surface runoff from surrounding upland communities. The dome
is
swamp may
become
completely desiccated the end of the dry season, expos-
at
domed
ing the peat layer for a couple of weeks. These areas have a profile with
smaller trees in the shallow^ water near the edge and larger trees in the deeper
swamp.
middle
w^ater in the of the
The dominant dome swamp Taxodium Other
tree in the ascendens.
is
prominent overstory species include Acer ruhrum, Diospyros virginiana,
Ilex
cassine, Nyssa sylvatica var hijlora, and Persea palustris. Typical woody under-
Smilax and
story species are Lyonia lucida, Myricacerijera, laur Toxico-
olia,
if
dendron radicans. The herbaceous ground layer includes the pteridophytes
Thclypteris inter rupta,Woodwardiaareolata,d.ndWood\\'ardia virginica. Othe
ground Helenium
layer species are Drosera pinnatijidum, Polygala
capillaris,
cymosa, Polygonum hydropiperoidcs, Rhynchospora Spiranthes
latifolia,
and The
lacinicita, Xyris spp. epiphytic flora similar to that of the loodplain
is f
swamp
and and
forest basin includes Pleopeltis polypodioides, Tillandsia
recurvata, Tillandsia sinmlata, Tillandsia usneoides.'dnd Tillandsia xfloridana.
A
one sw^amps was
rare find in of the Vittaria lineata.
—
Depression Marsh, Depression marshes are characterized by depres-
low^
community
sions in the latwoods due to slumping around the edges of a sink-
f
hole or water collecting on top of a hardpan subsurface layer Two hectares of
marsh The
depression occur study Adamsville sand
in the soils are fine
site.
and Basinger sand (Stankey
fine 1982).
Woody
These regions typically do not contain any overstory species. spe-
Uy My
cies include per iciunfasciculatunijlex glabra, ricacerifera. d^nclStillingia
A
The herbaceous ground con mphicarpu muh/enbergianum,
aquatica. layer tains
171
Carex Cyperus Eleocharis Eriocaulon decangularejuncus
spp., spp., spp., spp.,
Tachnanthcscaroliana, Panicum hemitomon, Rhexia Sabatiagrandiflora,
spp.,
and Xyris
Scleria spp.
spp.,
—
Wet About open
Prairie, 4.1 hectares of the study site covered by this
is
community
wetland herbaceous often found within the mesic latwoods
It is f
644 BRIT.ORG/5IDA 22[1)
dome swamp. The
or surrounding the fringe of a or basni soils are Basinger fine
sand and iVlyakka fme sand (Stankey 1982). The area poorly drained due to
is
hardpan
the subsoil layer of clay.
The wet prairie includes some native invading w^oody species: Hypericum
JasciculalumJlexglahraMy^^icaceriJcra/andStillingiaaquatica.Jh^
A A
mphicarpummuh
ground layer primarily consists of IcTrishj tea, len be rgicrninri,
Arislida stricta, Carex spp., Cyperus spp., Drosera capiUaris, Ekocharis spp.,
Juncus
Eupatorium
EriocauJon dccangulare, mohrii, Eimhrystylis
spp. spp.,
Eachnanthcs cnwliana, Panicum hcmilomon, Polygala Rhexia mariana,
spp.,
Sderia SyngonanthusJJavidulus, and Xyrisspp.
Sahatia
spp., spp.,
—
community
Mesic Flatwoods. The most dominant adapted found in
fire
community
the study (207.2 hectares) mesic flatwoods. This has a rela-
site is
The dominant Immokalee K4yakka
tively flat topography. soils are fine sand, fine
and Smyrna sand (Stankey These normally have low
sand, fine 1982). soils levels
A
of nutrients and organic matter. hardpan clay layer under the soil causes poor
water drainage the rainy season and xeric conditions during the dry season.
in
The composed Pinus and Pinus The
ovcrstory layer of cUiotti palustris.
is
community woody
pines are widely spaced across the allowing for a dense un-
The and
derstory layer understory layer includes I(cxg!a/9ra,L3/onia lucida, Scr-
cnoa rcpens. Smaller understory layer species are Gaylussaciajrondosa, Qucrcus
minima, Vaccmium corymhosum, and The herba-
Vciccinium myrsinites. rich
Amphicarpum
ground muhlenhergianum,Aristida
ceous layer includes stricta,
Dichanthdium Dichanihdium Elcphantopus
cnsifolium, porioricense, daius,
Eupatorium Euthamia
mohrii, caroliniana, Pityopsis graminifolia, PoJygaJa
lutca, Polygala setacea, Ptcridium aquilinum, Ptcrocaulon pycnostachyum,
Seymcria Sorghastrum secundum.
cassioides/dnd
—
Sandhill. The sandhill community makes up 34.4 hectares ol the study
m
and
There are tw^o areas; both are relatively high in elevation at 12,2-15.2
site.
have topography consisting of rolling hills and gentle slopes. The soil of both
areas Adamsville fine sand (Stankey 1982), which also found under the
is is
scrubby flatw^oods community within the study The deep sandy soils that
site.
commu-
and
are easily leached drained create xeric characteristics in this
w^ell
The ground
nity. overstory layer sparse, allowing sunlight to reach the layer,
is
adding
to the xeric condition.
The dominant overstory species include Pinus palustris, Qucrcus incana,
Qucrcus and Qucrcus margaretta. Understory species include Asimina
lacvis,
ohovata,Asimina reticulata,Diospyrosvirginiana,Gaylussaciadumosa,Licania
michauxii, Myrica Qucrcus mininuc Rhus copallinum, and Scrcnoa
ccrifcra,
repcns. The herbaceous ground cover layer consists primarily of AristiJci ricta,
.St
Dichanthdium
Asclcpias humistrata, Balduina angusiijolia, portoricensc,
Phochanth us grandiJlorus^PityopsisgraniiniJolia, Ptcrocaulon pycnostachyum,
Rhynchospora Sorghastrum secundum.
nicgalocarpa, anc]