626 Hydric Pine Savanna Landscape Location: Found on nearly level land with gradual water movement to
FLUCCS Description and through the natural drainage ways, swamps, marshes, and ponds associated with
This community is an open forest with a sparse canopy of Pinus elliottii (slash pine) this community.
and/or P. palustris (longleaf pine) with a ground cover of grasses, forbs, and a sparse Soils: Typically consist of nearly level, deep, acidic, generally poorly drained, coarse
understory of wetland shrubs. textured organic or clay soils.
Fire Interval: Fire is an important factor in these communities, with nearly all plants
and animals adapted to periodic fires, and several species dependent on fires for their
Hydric Pine Savanna (synonyms: Wet Flatwoods, Low Flatwoods, Moist Pine
continued existence. Natural fires probably occurred every 3-10 years during pre-
Barren, Hydric Flatwoods, Pocosin or Flatwoods) - Open canopy of scattered Pinus
Columbian times. Without relatively frequent fires, these flatwoods succeed into
elliottii (slash pine) and/or P. palustris (longleaf pine) on flat, poorly drained land.
hardwood dominated forests characterized by a closed canopy that essentially
Vegetation: Dominant plants include Pinus elliottii (slash pine) and/or P. palustris
eliminates the ground cover herbs and shrubs. Variation in community structure is
(longleaf pine) in the canopy with a diverse understory of Andropogon spp.
affected by fire frequency. As the length time between fires increases, the shrub
(bluestem), Aristida spp. (wiregrass), Lachnocaulon spp. (bog buttons), Rhexia spp.
layers becomes more developed, and the accumulation of pine needles may result in
(meadow-beauty), and Xyris spp. (yellow-eyed grass). Other typical plants include:
a catastrophic canopy fire. Where fires are frequent, the subcanopy is sparse or
Carphephorus odoratissimus (deer tongue), Cyrilla racemiflora (titi), Desmodium
absent and the groundcover is a diverse mix of grasses and herbs described as a wet
incanum (creeping beggarweed), Drosera spp. (sundews), Eleocharis spp.
prairie with pines. The longer fire is excluded, the more wet flatwoods may approach
(spikerush), Eupatorium capillifolium (dogfennel), Gaylussacia dumosa (dwarf
bay swamps, on flat, poorly drained land.
huckleberry), Ilex glabra (gallberry), Liatris spp. (gay feather), Magnolia virginiana
Hydrology: During the rainy season, Hydric Pine Savannas may be inundated for
(sweetbay), Pinguicula spp. (butterworts), Quercus virginiana (live oak),
one or more months per year. During the dry season, the hardpan may prevent roots
Rhynchospora spp. (beakrush), Sarracenia spp. (pitcher plants), Serenoa repens (saw
of certain plant species to penetrate and reach the groundwater causing many plants
palmetto), Smilax spp. (greenbrier), and a variety of sedges (Cyperaceae) and grasses
to be stressed due to water saturation during the wet season and drought during the
(Poaceae). Where fire has been suppressed, shrubs and trees like Cyrilla racemiflora
dry season.
(titi), Ilex coriacea (big gallberry), I. glabra (gallberry), I. myrtifolia (myrtle-leaved
Functions:
holly), Magnolia virginiana (sweet bay), Nyssa sylvatica (swamp tupelo or black
- Valuable for native forage production and as rangeland, which, with proper
gum), and Persea palustris (swamp bay) may become dense and the herbaceous
management, may lead to a greater diversity in grasses, in turn increasing the
groundcover is shaded out. In north Florida there is higher pine tree density which
richness and abundance of wildlife.
leads to a reduced open appearance and less groundcover. The species composition
- Important as a wildlife buffer zone between urban areas on better drained soils.
of Hydric Pine Savannas frequently overlaps with 624 Cypress-Pine-Cabbage Palm
Forests, 625 Hydric Pine Flatwoods, and 627 Slash Pine Swamp Forests.
Main Sources:
Wildlife: 1. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2004. Florida’s Endangered Species,
Mammals – Dasypus novemcinctus (armadillo), Didelphis virginiana (opossum), Threatened Species, And Species of Special Concern. Last accessed 7/10/04. Found at:
Lynx rufus (bobcat), Mephitis mephitis (striped skunk), Odocoileus virginianus http://wildflorida.org/imperiled/pdf/Endangered-Threatened-Special-Concern-2004.pdf.
2. Florida Natural Areas Inventory and Department of Natural Resources. 1990. Guide to Natural
(white-tailed deer), Peromyscus gossypinus (cotton mouse), Procyon lotor (raccoon),
Communities of Florida. Last accessed 2/04. Found at:
Sigmondon hispidus (cotton rat), and Sylvilagus floridanus (cottontail rabbit). http://www.fnai.org/PDF/Natural_Communities_Guide.pdf.
Birds – Buteo lineatus (red-shouldered hawk) and Colinus virginianus (Northern 3. Myers, R.L and J.J. Ewel, eds. 1990. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press,
bobwhite), Dendroica dominica (yellow-throated warbler), Dendroica pinus (pine Orlando, USA.
4. Soil Conservation Service. 1984. 26 Ecological Communities of Florida. United States Department of
warblers), Dryocopus pileatus (pileated woodpecker), Melanerpes carolinus (red-
Agriculture, Washington, D.C., USA.
bellied woodpecker), Picoides borealis (red cockaded woodpecker), Pipilo
erythrophthalmus (rufous-sided towhee), Sitta pusilla (brown-headed nuthatch), and
Sturnella magna (Eastern meadowlark).
Herpetofauna – Acris gryllus (Southern cricket frog), Bufo guercicus (oak toad),
Coluber constrictor priapus (Southern black racer), Crotalus adamanteus (Eastern
diamondback rattlesnake), Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata (yellow rat snake),
Pseudacris ornate (Southern chorus frog), and Sistrurus miliarius (pygmy
rattlesnake).
Slash Pine
Pinus elliottii
UPL-Long narrow needles 10-30 cm in Deer tongue, vanilla plant
Longleaf Pine fascicles of 2-3; male cones 3-8 cm, deep Carphephorus odoratissimus
Pinus palustris purple; female cones 9-15 cm, 8-9 cm FAC-Tall perennial herb with a
FACU-Long narrow needles to 30 cm broad at base, not painful to handle; Wire grass single, erect, hairless stem; leaves
always in fascicles of 3; extremely large mature bark dark gray to reddish brown, Aristida stricta in a basal rosette large, vanilla or
cones to 25 cm long; branch tips silvery can be orange, in broad, flat laminated Broomsedge FAC-Densely tufted, wiry perennial tobacco odor when crushed;
and very broad. plates. Andropogon virginicus to 1 m tall; stiffly erect stems; round flowers in numerous small heads,
FAC–Large, tufted perennial grass to 2 leaf blades (2 mm wide, 64 cm long), pink or purple corollas, late
m tall, usually with green or blue-green, pubescent with long hairs at base, summer-fall.
chalky stems; nodes and sheaths extruding from rolled blade (may be
smooth; flowers in racemes with 2-5 obscured in wet specimens), sheaths
branches. pubescent above; panicles narrow
and 12-32 cm long, branches
appressed.
Gallberry
Ilex glabra
UPL-Evergreen shrub, alternate
leathery leaves, with 2-3 crenate teeth
along leaf margin toward the tip, lower Pitcher-plant
surface has scattered reddish, punctate Sarracenia spp. (image S. rubra)
glands. Black berry-like fruit persistent OBL, except S. minor (FACW)–
into winter. Perennial insectivorous herb with erect
or sprawling leaves to 9 dm long,
resembling pitchers that contain water;
fruit is a 5-part capsule with many tiny
seeds. Spiked gayfeather
Liatris spicata
FAC- Perennial herb to 2.5 m, with Spikerush
leafy unbranched stems arising from Eleocharis baldwinii
a corm; smooth stems and leaves; OBL-Tufted, often forming large Yellow-Eyed Grass
flowers in long narrow cylinders, clumps or mats; usually rooted and Xyris spp.
rose purple, 5-18 per head. emergent; leaves reduced to bladeless OBL (except X. caroliniana and X.
sheaths; flowers in single terminal jupicai, FACW)-Annual or perennial
spikes. grass like herbs growing singly or in
clumps, 4-150 cm tall; basal, iris-like
leaves; flowers with 3 yellow (some
Titi species white) petals from cone like
Cyrilla racemiflora Sweetbay spikes of hard or leathery overlapping
FAC- Shrub or small tree to 30 ft; Magnolia virginiana spiraled bracts on sheathed scape.
simple alternate leaves of variable OBL-Evergreen tree, alternate leathery
size, turning bright orange, red or leaves, light gray or silvery-white
yellow before falling; flowers in underneath; bark smooth and light
clustered racemes, 2-15 cm; brown gray; fragrant showy flowers in spring.
fruit for most of the year.
This list is not intended to be all inclusive.