ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY


 NO. 2 SOUTH FLORIDA COASTAL STRAND


OCCURRENCE

The South Florida Coastal Strand ecological community occurs along the
Atlantic Ocean south of Brevard County and along the Gulf of Mexico south of
Pasco County. Individual communities are generally large in size, being
narrow and long, parallel to the coastal beaches. Small, isolated communities
can also be found along some bays or sounds. This community generally
encompasses the area affected by salt sprays from the ocean, Gulf and salt
water bays.

DESCRIPTIONS

This community occurs on nearly level to strongly sloping land. It is easily
identified by its location adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
and by plants that are adapted to or influenced by the salty environment.
Small areas of hammock may occur on more inland parts of this community.

1. Soil

 The soils are nearly level to strongly sloping, deep, mostly well to
 excessively drained with some moderately well drained or somewhat poorly
 drained. They are coarsely textured throughout. Representative soils
 include: Canaveral and Palm Beach. It also includes areas mapped as
 Coastal Beach and Coastal Beach Ridges. Appendix A contains information
 on correlation of soil series with the appropriate ecological community.

2. Vegetation

 The natural vegetation of this community is low growing grasses, vines,
 and herbaceous plants with few trees or large shrubs. These trees and
 shrubs often occur in stunted form due to the action of the wind. The
 natural forces of wind, salt, and blowing sand make plant establishment
 difficult on the foredunes. Plants which do establish here are well
 adapted to disturbance and are pioneer species. The backdunes will often
 have vegetation similar to the sand pine scrub or the wetland hardwood
 hammock ecological communities. Plants which characterize this community
 are:

 TREES Australian pine, Casuarine equisetifolia; Cabbage palm, Sabal
 palmetto; Coconut palm, Cocos nucifera; Sand live oak, Quercus
 virginiana var. maritima

 SHRUBS Bay cedar, Suriana maritima; Coco plum, Chrysobalanus icaco;
 Inkberry, Scaevola plumieri; Marshelder, Iva imbricata;
 Sawpalmetto, Serenoa reopens; Silverleaf croton, Croton
 punctatus; Spanish bayonet, Yucca aloifolia; Sea grape,
 Coccoloba uvifera