ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY


 NO. 7 NORTH FLORIDA FLATWOODS


OCCURRENCE

The North Florida Flatwoods ecological community occurs north of a line from
Levy County on the west to St. Johns County on the east, and in the northwest
portion of the state. It is quite extensive, occurring most frequently in the
northeastern region of the state and the southern portion of the northwest
region. Individual communities may comprise several thousand acres and are
typically interspersed with smaller communities of other types, especially
wetlands.

DESCRIPTIONS

This community occurs on nearly level land. Water movement is very gradual to
the natural drainageways, swamps, ponds, and marshes associated with this
community. Wet conditions prevail during the rainy season with the water
table on or near the surface. It is easily identified by the flat topography,
slash pine and sawpalmetto vegetation.

1. Soil

 Numerous soil types occur within this community. The soils are nearly
 level, deep, acid, poorly to somewhat poorly drained, and coarse textured
 or coarse textured in the upper part and moderately coarse textured or
 moderately fine textured in the lower part. Representative soils include:
 Chaires, Garcon, Leon, Lumber, Lutterluh, Lynn Haven, Mascotte, Olustee,
 Pelham, Pottsburg, Ridgeland, Sapelo, Scranton, and Talquin. Appendix A
 contains information on correlation of soil series with the appropriate
 ecological community.

2. Vegetation

 Slight differences in plant composition occur in this community depending
 upon location but these differences are of minor consequence. As this
 community is observed, a moderate to dense stand of pine trees is usually
 noted. An understory of sawpalmetto and grasses are also evident.
 Compared to the South Florida Flatwoods community, several differences are
 apparent. A shorter growing season and colder temperature have helped
 cause significant vegetative differences. More frequent interspersion of
 hardwood and cypress strands coupled with higher pine tree density reduces
 the open appearance.

 Close study reveals the following characteristic plants:

 TREES Live oak, Quercus virginiana; Slash pine, Pinus elliottii

 SHRUBS Dwarf huckleberry, Gaylussacia dumosa; Gallberry, Ilex 2labra;
 Sawpalmetto, Serenoa repens; Shining sumac, Rhus lanceoluta;
 Tarflower, Befaria racemosa; Waxmyrtle, Myrica cerifera