ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY


 NO. 13 CABBAGE PALM HAMMOCKS


OCCURRENCE

The Cabbage Palm Hammock ecological community occurs predominantly in south
Florida. Counties having the most significant communities of this type are
Highlands, Okeechobee and surrounding counties. Communities are usually one
to several acres and rarely extensive in size.

DESCRIPTION

This community is easily identified by the occurrence of thick stands of
cabbage palm with a few scattered oak. It occurs mostly on slightly elevated
areas within the Slough and South Florida Flatwoods communities.

1. Soils

 The soils are nearly level to gently sloping, poorly to somewhat poorly
 drained, calcareous, and coarse textured. They occur mostly on low lying
 poorly drained ridges or flats. Representative soils included Bradenton,
 Hilolo, Parkwood, and Winder. Appendix A contains information on
 correlation of soil series with the appropriate ecological community.

2. Vegetation

 The natural vegetation is dominated by tree species, especially cabbage
 palms. Plants that characterize this community are:

 TREES Cabbage palm, Sabal palmetto; Laurel oak, Quercus laurifolia;
 Live oak, Quercus yirginiana

 SHRUBS American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana; Sawpalmetto,
 Serenoa repens; Waxmyrtle, Myrica cerifera

 GRASSES Creeping bluestem, Schizachrium stoloniferum; Low panicums,
 Panicum spp.; Stiffleaf windmillgrass, Estachvs petraea

 HERBACEOUS PLANTS AND VINES Caesar weed, Urena lobata; Poison ivy,
 Toxicodendron radicans; Wild grape, Vitis spp.; Yellow
 jessamine, Gelemium sempervivens

 Information on other plants that may occur in this community are found in
 Appendix B.

3. Animals

 Wildlife species include:

 MAMMALS Armadillo, bobcat, gray squirrel, opossum, deer, skunk,
 raccoons, wild hogs

 BIRDS Owls, red-shouldered hawk, woodpeckers, numerous songbirds