Central Florida Pine Flatwoods

EVT 7453
CES203.382GNRTreeConifer
Summary
This system is endemic to Florida, ranging from Levy and St. Johns counties in the north (ca. 30°N latitude) southward to Hillsborough, Osceola and Polk counties. It was once an extensive system within its historic range. As currently conceived, this system includes both "scrubby flatwoods" that occur on well-drained soils and typical flatwoods that occur on more poorly drained soils. The vegetation is naturally dominated by either Pinus palustris or Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, and less frequently includes Pinus serotina. Examples vary in aspect from well-developed understory layers or scrub species to more herbaceous, savanna-like conditions. There is a dense ground cover of low shrubs, grasses, and herbs. Frequent, low-intensity fire is the dominant natural ecological force.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Vegetation
The southern limit of this system marks the approximate natural distribution limit for both Pinus serotina and Pinus elliottii var. elliottii (Abrahamson and Hartnett 1990). The associations comprising this system are not well documented; more information is needed to describe additional communities that are believed to be present. The vegetation varies between examples of this system based on fire history, geographic location, and the soils on which it occurs. The most well-drained examples may be considered "scrubby flatwoods" that support a characteristic understory layer of xeromorphic adapted species, such as Quercus geminata, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia ferruginea, Sideroxylon tenax (= Bumelia tenax), and Persea humilis; Quercus inopina is especially diagnostic (Abrahamson et al. 1984). These conditions range to examples on more poorly drained soils that include scattered Pinus elliottii var. elliottii or Pinus palustris over Serenoa repens and other species such as Panicum abscissum and Aristida beyrichiana.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
As currently conceived, this system includes both "scrubby flatwoods" that occur on well-drained soils and typical mesic and wet flatwoods that occur on more poorly drained soils. Wetter pine flatwoods sites with an herbaceous ground cover are included, these are sometimes called wet pine savannas.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Dynamics
Fire is naturally frequent, with a fire-return time of from one to four years. Disturbances are an important part of the natural functions of this system. In order for these habitats to burn frequently there needs to be enough fine fuel, such as needles from Pinus palustris trees, healthy populations of native warm-season grasses, and evergreen shrubs with volatile oils in their leaves, such as Ilex glabra, Lyonia spp., Morella cerifera, Quercus geminata, Quercus minima, Serenoa repens, and Vaccinium spp. The frequent fires promote flowering, seed production, and seed germination of many plants and provide open areas in patches (Van Lear et al. 2005).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Threats
Lack of fire and drainage or alteration of the natural hydrology are big threats for all Pinus palustris ecosystems. Threats also include the loss of habitat from commercial and residential development, and fragmentation of habitat by roads. These threats limit prescribed burning due to urban interface, safety and smoke management concerns. Invasive exotic species are threats, including Imperata cylindrica (Brewer 2008), Lespedeza bicolor, and feral pigs (Sus scrofa), which root up Pinus palustris seedlings (Wahlenberg 1946) and herbaceous plants with thick roots. Pinus palustris woodlands have declined due to conversion to intensively managed pine plantations.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
Endemic to Florida, ranging in the north from Levy and St. Johns counties southward to Hillsborough and Polk counties. It was once an extensive ecological system within its historic range (Stout and Marion 1993).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Tree canopy

Pinus elliottii, Pinus palustris, Pinus serotina

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, Quercus geminata, Quercus inopina, Quercus minima, Serenoa repens, Sideroxylon tenax, Tamala humilis

Herb (field)

Aristida beyrichiana, Calopogon multiflorus, Dalea adenopoda, Hartwrightia floridana, Lechea divaricata, Panicum abscissum, Platanthera chapmanii, Rhynchosia michauxii, Sporobolus curtissii, Sporobolus floridanus, Verbesina heterophylla
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (5)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Reptiles (3)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Eastern PinesnakePituophis melanoleucusG4
Florida WormlizardRhineura floridanaG3G4
Florida Scrub LizardSceloporus woodiG2G3

Other Invertebrates (2)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Gopher TortoiseGopherus polyphemusG3
American Box TurtleTerrapene carolinaG5
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (15)

Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.

Common NameScientific NameG-RankESA Status
Many-flower Grass-pinkCalopogon multiflorusG3--
Tampa Prairie-cloverDalea adenopodaG2G3--
Gopher TortoiseGopherus polyphemusG3--
Florida HartwrightiaHartwrightia floridanaG2G3Under Review
Pine PinweedLechea divaricataG2--
Cut-throat GrassPanicum abscissumG3--
Chapman's Fringed OrchidPlatanthera chapmaniiG2G3--
Florida WormlizardRhineura floridanaG3G4--
Michaux's SnoutbeanRhynchosia michauxiiG3?--
Florida Scrub LizardSceloporus woodiG2G3Under Review
Tough BumeliaSideroxylon tenaxG3?--
Pineland DropseedSporobolus curtissiiG3--
Florida DropseedSporobolus floridanusG3--
Scrub BayTamala humilisG3--
Diverseleaf CrownbeardVerbesina heterophyllaG2--
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (6)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

NameG-Rank
Pinus elliottii / Serenoa repens - Ilex glabra WoodlandG4 NatureServe
Pinus elliottii var. densa / Quercus minima / Panicum abscissum WoodlandG2 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus elliottii / Quercus chapmanii / Aristida beyrichiana WoodlandG2 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus serotina / Ilex glabra - Lyonia lucida - (Serenoa repens) WoodlandG3 NatureServe
Pinus serotina / Gordonia lasianthus - Persea palustris Swamp WoodlandG3 NatureServe
Pinus serotina / Ilex glabra / Aristida beyrichiana WoodlandG2 NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (1)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

StateS-Rank
FLSNR
Roadless Areas (2)

Inventoried Roadless Areas where this ecosystem is present, identified from LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type spatial analysis. Coverage indicates the proportion of each area occupied by this ecosystem type.

Florida (2)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Alexander Springs CreekOcala National Forest59.2%707.76
Farles PrairieOcala National Forest9.9%76.05
Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.