Historic vegetation was dominated by open woodlands of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) with an understory of wiregrass (Aristida stricta). Other natural communities include to pine savannas, flatwoods (pine forests with woody understories), and xeric hardwood forests.[2]
Southern coastal plain nonriverine cypress domes are small forested wetlands characterized by their dome-shaped appearance, with taller trees in the center and shorter trees around the perimeter. These wetlands occur on poorly drained depressions surrounded by pine flatwoods. Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) dominates the canopy, which it shares with swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua).[7]
On the Gulf coastal plain, maritime forest consists of a mosaic of forests and shrublands on barrier islands and strands. It occurs in sheltered areas behind coastal dunes and grasslands. Forests are dominated by a mixture of needle-leaved and broad-leaved evergreen trees, including sand pine (Pinus clausa), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), southern live oak (Quercus virginiana), cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), and sand hickory (Carya pallida). Wetland areas are dominated by pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) and sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). Wind and salt spray from the ocean can make these forests appear pruned and sculpted.[11]
This includes a variety of deciduous oak forests and mixed evergreen forests dominated by oak. Pines are often present as well. This forest is found in fire-sheltered locations surrounded by pine-dominated uplands, including slopes near rivers and sinkholes. Sand laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica) is the typical oak species; post oak (Quercus stellata), southern red oak (Quercus falcata), and white oak (Quercus alba) are associates. The forest canopy can be diverse, including hickories and other hardwood species. Common pines include loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), spruce pine (Pinus glabra), or shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata). To the south, this becomes the southern coastal plain oak dome and hammock.[13]
Mesic slope forest
On the southern Atlantic coastal plain, mesic slope forest is found on steep slopes, bluffs, and sheltered ravines. Fire is rare. They occur on mesic soils, and contain species not found in other forest systems in the area. These include American beech (Fagus grandifolia), southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), and purple anise (Illicium floridanum). The related east Gulf coastal plain northern mesic hardwood slope forest occurs to the north and has more deciduous trees. [14]
On the inland east Gulf coastal plain, mesic slope forest consists of deciduous hardwood forests found in slopes and ravines. They inhabit mesic sites between drier uplands and moister streams. American beech (Fagus grandifolia), white oak (Quercus alba), and cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) are the distinguishing tree species. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is common in the southern part of the range. The related southern coastal plain mesic slope forest is found to the south.[15]
Dry and dry-mesic oak forest
These forests occur on dry and dry-mesic sites and are dominated by oaks and hickories. These habitats are protected from fires by either steep topography, isolation, or limited flammability of the vegetation. Typical canopy species include white oak (Quercus alba), sand laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica), mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), and pignut hickory (Carya glabra).[16]
Highlands freshwater marsh
Floridian highlands freshwater marshes are highland marshes found in shallow peat-filled valleys, the basins of dried lakes, and the borders of existing lakes. The vegetation mosaic includes a range of mostly herbaceous plant communities, varying based on water depth. Deep water supports various submerged and floating plants. Meter-deep water supports emergent herbaceousperennials, typically in dense, monospecific stands; species include bulrush (Typha latifolia), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), and American lotus (Nelumbo lutea). Shallow areas only submerged during wet season support more graminoid vegetation, including maidencane (Panicum hemitomon) and southern cutgrass (Leersia hexandra). Subsidence and drainage pattern changes make these habitats shift and change over time. Soils can be mucky, loamy, or sandy, but they are generally above permeable subsoils that create standing water much of the year. These marshes may also be called meadows or prairies. [17]
Mature longleaf pine forests are important habitat for the vulnerable red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) and gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus).[2]
Areas of natural habitat
Today, nearly all mature stands of longleaf pine are gone, and only a few isolated sites still contain substantial natural habitat. In many areas, longleaf pine forests have been replaced with plantations of slash pine (Pinus elliottii), which are less biologically diverse than native habitat.
