Home/Ecosystems/ South Florida Pine Flatwoods

South Florida Pine Flatwoods

EVT 7446

CES411.381GNRTreeConifer

Summary

This system is endemic to Florida, ranging from Lee, Desoto, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties southward. It was once an extensive system within its historic range. The vegetation is naturally dominated by Pinus elliottii var. densa, being largely outside the natural range of Pinus serotina, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, and Pinus palustris. In natural condition, examples are generally open with a variety of low shrub and grass species forming a dense ground cover. Frequent, low-intensity fire was the dominant natural ecological force, but most areas have undergone long periods without fire, resulting in greater dominance of shrubs and saw palmetto, as well as denser canopies of slash pine.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Vegetation

According to Huffman and Judd (1998), examples of this system have generally open canopies composed of Pinus elliottii var. densa and, more rarely, Pinus palustris. Serenoa repens, Lyonia lucida, Lyonia fruticosa, Ilex glabra, Vaccinium darrowii, Vaccinium myrsinites, and Quercus minima are common shrubs. Grasses are typically abundant, including Aristida beyrichiana and Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum; most other grass and herbaceous species found are in common with Florida Dry Prairie (CES203.380).

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Environment

This system occurs on sandy soils, including Spodosols, which are prone to some saturation or short periods of flooding after summer rains. These flatwoods occur in areas which have some creeks, which provide some natural firebreaks. Similar areas which are very extensive without creeks tend to be Florida Dry Prairie (CES203.380), which naturally burns more frequently.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Dynamics

Frequent, low-intensity fire was the dominant natural ecological force, but most areas have undergone long periods without fire, resulting in greater dominance of shrubs and saw palmetto, as well as denser canopies of slash pine (Huffman and Judd 1998, Noel et al. 1998). Disturbances are an important part of the natural functions of pine flatwoods. In order for these habitats to burn frequently (every 2-3 years), there needs to be enough fine fuel, such as needles from Pinus elliottii var. densa or Pinus palustris trees, healthy populations of native warm-season grasses, and evergreen shrubs with volatile oils in their leaves, such as Gaylussacia frondosa, Hypericum tenuifolium, Ilex glabra, Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia fruticosa, Serenoa repens, and Vaccinium myrsinites. 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 is a big threat for all Pinus elliottii var. densa or 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) or Melinis repens and feral pigs (Sus scrofa), which root up Pinus palustris seedlings (Wahlenberg 1946) and herbaceous plants with thick roots Pinus elliottii var. densa or Pinus palustris woodlands have declined due to conversion to intensively managed pine plantations.

Source: NatureServe Explorer

Distribution

This system is found in southern Florida, extending north to mid-peninsula (e.g., Lee, Desoto, Highlands, and Okeechobee counties).

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 var. densa, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, Pinus palustris, Pinus serotina

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Ilex glabra, Lyonia fruticosa, Lyonia lucida, Nolina atopocarpa, Quercus minima, Serenoa repens, Vaccinium darrowii, Vaccinium myrsinites

Herb (field)

Aeschynomene pratensis, Aletris bracteata, Aristida beyrichiana, Campanula floridana, Coreopsis floridana, Dyschoriste angusta, Elytraria caroliniensis var. angustifolia, Eriocaulon ravenelii, Eupatorium mikanioides, Justicia angusta, Lachnocaulon minus, Ludwigia curtissii, Nemastylis floridana, Pluchea rosea, Pteroglossaspis ecristata, Schizachyrium stoloniferum, Schoenolirion albiflorum, Spiranthes brevilabris, Zephyranthes simpsonii

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

Ecologically Associated Animals (10)

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.

Mammals (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Florida Panther	Puma concolor coryi	G5T1

Reptiles (8)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Scarletsnake	Cemophora coccinea	G5
North American Racer	Coluber constrictor	G5
Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake	Crotalus adamanteus	G3
Ring-necked Snake	Diadophis punctatus	G5
Red Cornsnake	Pantherophis guttatus	G5
Pygmy Rattlesnake	Sistrurus miliarius	G5
Dekay's Brownsnake	Storeria dekayi	G5
Eastern Ribbonsnake	Thamnophis saurita	G5

Molluscs (1)

Common Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank
Manatee Treesnail	Drymaeus dormani	G2G3

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (19)

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 Name	Scientific Name	G-Rank	ESA Status
Bracted Colicroot	Aletris bracteata	G2	--
Florida Bellflower	Campanula floridana	G3?Q	--
Florida Tickseed	Coreopsis floridana	G3G4	--
Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake	Crotalus adamanteus	G3	Under Review
Manatee Treesnail	Drymaeus dormani	G2G3	--
Pineland Dyschoriste	Dyschoriste angusta	G2G3	--
Narrowleaf Carolina Scalystem	Elytraria caroliniensis var. angustifolia	G4T2	--
Ravenel's Pipewort	Eriocaulon ravenelii	G3G4	--
Semaphore Thoroughwort	Eupatorium mikanioides	G3?	--
Pineland Water-willow	Justicia angusta	G3Q	--
Small's Bogbutton	Lachnocaulon minus	G3G4	--
Curtiss' Seedbox	Ludwigia curtissii	G3G4	--
Fall-flowering Ixia	Nemastylis floridana	G3	--
Florida Bear-grass	Nolina atopocarpa	G3	--
Florida Panther	Puma concolor coryi	G5T1	Endangered
Creeping Bluestem	Schizachyrium stoloniferum	G3G4Q	--
White Sunnybell	Schoenolirion albiflorum	G3	--
Texas Ladies'-tresses	Spiranthes brevilabris	G1G2	--
Rain Lily	Zephyranthes simpsonii	G2G3	--

Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment

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.

State	S-Rank
FL	SNR

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.