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A.779 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.779 Reference: EcoArt 2002 Description: This alliance encompasses much of the oak-dominated scrub communities of coarse, dry sands of Florida and is only rarely found in adjacent states. On the Gulf Coast, this alliance is especially represented where coastal terraces reach the Gulf of Mexico, with no barrier island. It includes both coastal and interior oak scrub vegetation, with scrub oaks over and among other smaller shrubs. Associations affiliated with this alliance are found in three different areas: inland on the Florida peninsula; along the Atlantic Coast of Florida; and along the Gulf Coast of Panhandle Florida and a small portion of Georgia and possibly Alabama. This includes examples which are generally referred to as 'coastal scrub' as well as those called 'Florida scrub.' Communities in this alliance generally have several scrub oak species, primarily ~Quercus geminata, Quercus myrtifolia, Quercus chapmanii$, and ~Quercus inopina$ (in Lake Wales Ridge examples). Other sclerophyllous or microphyllous shrubs are often also present, such as ~Ceratiola ericoides, Serenoa repens, Sabal etonia, Lyonia ferruginea$, and others. This phase of Florida scrub vegetation either lacks pines, or has them at very low densities. Scattered individuals of ~Pinus clausa$ or ~Pinus elliottii$ could be present. Some characteristic species in Gulf Coast examples include ~Conradina canescens, Chrysoma pauciflosculosa, Lupinus westianus, Chrysopsis gossypina ssp. cruiseana$, and ~Chrysopsis godfreyi$. The ground cover frequently includes fruticose lichens such as ~Cladonia leporina$ and ~Cladina evansii$. These may form 100% cover in some places. This alliance occurs on various kinds of deep sands; recent coastal or near-coastal dunes, or inland sand ridges and ancient dune systems. The Florida Central Ridge is composed of a variety of eolian, alluvial, and marine deposits of Miocene to early Pleistocene age. These soils are excessively well-drained Quartzipsamments which lack silt, clay, or organic matter and are very low in nutrients. While often associated with deep white sands ('sugar sands'), not all examples of scrub occur on these particular sands. It is inferred that whiter sands are associated with more ancient scrub vegetation. Early successional scrub vegetation occurs on younger, more exposed dune ridges; more protected examples may eventually develop a characteristic open pine overstory. The exposed occurrences tend to have much larger areas of open sand than do their more protected counterparts.  Accession Code: VB.CC.2409.A779 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
	status: accepted Community's Parent: III.A.2.N.c This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: QUERCUS GEMINATA - QUERCUS MYRTIFOLIA - QUERCUS CHAPMANII SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE   Code: A.779   Common: Sand Live Oak - Myrtle Oak - Chapman Oak Shrubland Alliance (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Quercus geminata - Quercus myrtifolia - Quercus chapmanii Shrubland Alliance