Cabbage Palmetto - (Coastal Red-cedar) Woodland
Element Identifiers
NVCS association: Sabal palmetto - (Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola) Woodland
Database Code: CEGL003526
Formation: Temperate broad-leaved evergreen woodland
Alliance: SABAL PALMETTO TEMPERATE WOODLAND ALLIANCE (II.A.2.N.a.5)
Element Concept
Summary: This community consists of pure to mixed, open stands of Sabal palmetto, often with Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola. Shrub and herb species can include Yucca aloifolia, Rhus copallinum, Ilex vomitoria, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera). This community is described from the outer South Atlantic Coastal Plain of Georgia and South Carolina, where it occurs in exposed situations on marsh hammock islands. This, or related vegetation, could occur in the adjacent Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, East Gulf Coastal Plain and/or Florida Peninsula. More information is needed on the range and variability of this type.
Environment: See Summary
Vegetation: See Summary
Dynamics: See Summary
Similar Associations: No information
Synonymy: No information
Comments: None
Conservation Ranking & Rare Species
GRank: G2? (01-01-31): This community appears to be rare and restricted, but is poorly understood and circumscribed. As defined, its occurrence is limited to barrier island and barrier spit situations, where it is negatively affected by coastal development. It is also affected by natural disturbances in the form of hurricanes, which probably help maintain this community's structure and composition, as Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola and Sabal palmetto are favored by hurricane disturbance relative to other coastal woody species.
High-ranked species: No information
Element Distribution
Range:
States: FL? GA SC
Crosswalk to State Classifications: Not yet cross-referenced to state classifications
TNC Ecoregions: 53:P, 55:P, 56:C, 57:P
USFS Ecoregions: 232Ce:CCC, 232Da:CPP, 232Dc:CPP, 232Ga:CP?, 232Gb:CPP
Federal Lands: NPS (Fort Pulaski); USFS (Ocala?)
Element Sources
References:
Hydric Hammocks and Forested Marsh Islands
Temperate Hydric Hammock
Element Identifiers
NVCS association: Sabal palmetto - Quercus laurifolia - Quercus virginiana - Magnolia virginiana - Ulmus americana Forest
Database Code: CEGL004674
Formation: Saturated mixed broad-leaved evergreen - cold-deciduous forest
Alliance: SABAL PALMETTO - QUERCUS LAURIFOLIA - QUERCUS VIRGINIANA - MAGNOLIA VIRGINIANA - ULMUS AMERICANA SATURATED FOREST ALLIANCE (I.C.2.N.d.3)
Element Concept
Summary: Temperate hydric hammocks of Florida and adjacent Georgia, lacking tropical components. Hydric hammocks typically form where deep groundwater seeps slowly from limestone outcrops. This vegetation is characterized by a moderately diverse canopy, usually composed of Sabal palmetto, Quercus virginiana, Quercus laurifolia, Magnolia virginiana, Ulmus americana (= var. floridana), and sometimes also Pinus taeda, Acer rubrum, Quercus nigra, Celtis laevigata, Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and others. Typical understory species can include Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Cornus foemina, Diospyros virginiana, Magnolia virginiana, Persea palustris, Nyssa biflora, and canopy species. Typical shrubs and woody vines include Sabal minor, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Viburnum obovatum, Berchemia scandens, Callicarpa americana, Ampelopsis arborea, Persea palustris, and Toxicodendron radicans.
Environment: Hydric hammocks in Florida typically form where deep groundwater seeps slowly from limestone outcrops (Ewel 1990b, Vince et al. 1989).
Vegetation: This vegetation is characterized by a moderately diverse canopy, usually composed of Sabal palmetto, Quercus virginiana, Quercus laurifolia, Magnolia virginiana, Ulmus americana (= var. floridana), and sometimes also Pinus taeda, Acer rubrum, Quercus nigra, Celtis laevigata, Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, and others. Typical understory species can include Carpinus caroliniana ssp. caroliniana, Cornus foemina, Diospyros virginiana, Magnolia virginiana, Persea palustris, Gordonia lasianthus, Nyssa biflora, and canopy species. Typical shrubs and woody vines include Sabal minor, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Viburnum obovatum, Berchemia scandens, Lyonia lucida, Morella cerifera, Ilex cassine, Serenoa repens, Vaccinium elliottii, Arundinaria gigantea, Callicarpa americana, Ampelopsis arborea, Persea palustris, and Toxicodendron radicans. Some important herbaceous species are Mitchella repens, Thelypteris kunthii, Dichanthelium sabulorum var. thinium (= Dichanthelium portoricense), Woodwardia virginica, Chasmanthium nitidum, Osmunda cinnamomea, Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. setarius, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Saururus cernuus, and Burmannia biflora.
Dynamics: See Summary
Similar Associations:
Sabal palmetto - Quercus virginiana - Ulmus americana - Ficus aurea / Acrostichum danaeifolium - Nephrolepis exaltata Forest (CEGL004409)--is similar but contains tropical components.
Synonymy: No information
Comments: None
Conservation Ranking & Rare Species
GRank: G2G3 (97-06-23): This association is restricted to temperate Florida and adjacent Georgia. Species richness in hydric hammocks is generally favored by the absence of fire, salt, timber harvest, excessive drydown, and flooding (Vince et al. 1989). Some threats include alteration of hydrologic regime, timber removal (particularly of commercially valuable components including Quercus spp. and Juniperus). Dominance of Sabal palmetto and Quercus virginiana may reflect the bypassing of these less valuable species by commercial forestry. If hydric hammocks are clearcut, they are frequently replanted with Pinus taeda. The repeated grazing of cattle and hogs may also affect these communities. Some limited stands are conserved on the Ocala National Forest.
High-ranked species: No information
Element Distribution
Range: This association is restricted to temperate Florida and adjacent Georgia.
States: FL GA
Crosswalk to State Classifications:
FL: Hydric Hammock, in part (FL 1992)
TNC Ecoregions: 53:C, 55:C, 56:C
USFS Ecoregions: 232Cb:CP?, 232Ce:CPP, 232Db:CPP, 232Dc:CPP, 232Ga:CCC, 232Gb:CCC, 232Gc:CCP, 232Gd:CCP
Federal Lands: USFS (Ocala); USFWS (St. Marks)
Element Sources
References: Ewel 1990b, FNAI 1992b, Vince et al. 1989
Hydric Hammocks and Forested Marsh Islands
Share with your friends: |