Name:
Serenoa repens / Aristida beyrichiana Saturated Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This open shrubland alliance consists of nearly treeless, open grassy to shrubby expanses including Aristida beyrichiana, Aristida spiciformis, Aristida purpurascens, Andropogon virginicus, Andropogon brachystachyus, and Eragrostis spp. with sparse to dense cover of low, scrubby Serenoa repens and scattered patches of low shrubs including Quercus pumila, Asimina spp., Ilex glabra, Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, Vaccinium myrsinites, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera). An occasional tree may occur (less than 2 trees/1.0 ha), typically Pinus elliottii var. densa or Sabal palmetto. Other typical plants include Andropogon capillipes (= Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus), Axonopus fissifolius, Sorghastrum secundum, Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum (= Schizachyrium stoloniferum), Pityopsis graminifolia, Eryngium aromaticum, Liatris spp., Pterocaulon pycnostachyum, Piloblephis rigida, Lilium catesbaei, Sabatia brevifolia, Polygala spp., Solidago spp., and Hyptis alata. This alliance is endemic to Florida and occurs within a matrix of mesic pine flatwoods in the southern portion of the state on flat, moderately to poorly drained sandy sites. These areas are seldom inundated but may flood with several centimeters of water for short periods after heavy summer rains. This alliance is threatened rangewide by urban development, use as unimproved pasture or conversion to improved pasture, agriculture, and citrus groves. Historical acreage of this alliance has greatly decreased, with few large tracts remaining and few occurrences of reasonable quality. This vegetation is closely related floristically to mesic pine flatwoods, except that it has no tree layer. The open structure and species composition is maintained by frequent fire. The natural fire frequency is thought to be more frequent than in the surrounding mesic pine flatwoods. Some sources suggest that this vegetation type may be the result of anthropogenic factors that provided an unnaturally high fire frequency or removed biomass through logging or grazing.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.27481.SERENOAREPENSAR
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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