Southern Atlantic Coastal Wet Pine Savanna

EVT 7450Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods
CES203.536GNRTreeRiparian
Summary
This ecological system of pine-dominated savannas and/or flatwoods ranges from central South Carolina to northeastern Florida, centered near the coast in southeastern Georgia. It was the former matrix system in this region. This general area has been referred to as the Longleaf Pine Wiregrass Savannas region and the Sea Island Flatwoods Ecoregion (75f). Examples of this system and component community associations share the common features of wet, seasonally saturated, mineral soils and historic exposure to frequent low-intensity fire. They occur on a wide range of soil textures, which is an important factor in distinguishing different associations. The vegetation is naturally dominated by Pinus palustris or, on wetter sites, Pinus elliottii or less commonly Pinus serotina. Understory conditions may be dramatically altered by fire frequency and seasonality. In natural condition (with frequent fires, including some growing-season fire), there tends to be a dense ground cover of herbs and low shrubs; grasses can dominate, but there is often a large diversity of other herbs and shrubs.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Vegetation
The best examples are typically open woodlands naturally dominated by Pinus palustris or Pinus elliottii and/or Pinus serotina on wetter sites. In many areas past logging and subsequent lack of frequent growing-season fire have led to much greater dominance by Pinus elliottii. In natural condition, there is typically a dense ground cover of herbs and low shrubs; grasses can dominate, but there is often a large diversity of other herbs and shrubs. The shrubs are mainly Serenoa repens, Ilex glabra, and Ilex coriacea along with various ericaceous species. These shrub species become especially prominent on sites not frequently burned.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
This system occurs on wet mineral soil sites, in the middle and outer Coastal Plain. Landforms include low areas in relict beach ridge systems and eolian sand deposits, and poorly drained clayey, loamy, or sandy flats.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Dynamics
Frequent low-intensity fire is important. Lightning has been an important source of ignition for these fires, especially historically. Disturbances are an important part of the natural functions of wet pine savanna and 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 palustris trees, healthy populations of native warm-season grasses, and evergreen shrubs with volatile oils in their leaves, such as Gaylussacia frondosa, Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Lyonia spp., 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).

In the past, wildland fires were started by lightning strikes and deliberately by people, including Native Americans prior to the 1700s. The wet pine savanna may have burned as frequently as every 2-3 years. Hurricane-force winds can knock down and break trees, including Pinus palustris, but in frequently burned savannas, weakened hardwood midstory trees could be especially prone to blowdown.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Threats
Lack of fire is the primary threat to Pinus palustris ecosystems. Other threats 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, Lespedeza cuneata, Lonicera japonica, Triadica sebifera, and feral pigs (Sus scrofa), which root up herbaceous plants with thick roots as well as Pinus palustris seedings (Wahlenberg 1946). Pinus palustris woodlands have declined due to their conversion into intensively managed pine plantations.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
This system is restricted to the Atlantic Coastal Plain from central South Carolina to northeastern Florida. This general area has been referred to as the Longleaf Pine Wiregrass Savannas region (Platt 1999) and the Sea Island Flatwoods (EPA Ecoregion 75f) (Griffith et al. 2001, 2002).
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)

Clethra alnifolia, Gaylussacia frondosa, Ilex coriacea, Ilex glabra, Lindera melissifolia, Lyonia ferruginea, Lyonia lucida, Nolina atopocarpa, Serenoa repens

Short shrub/sapling

Amorpha georgiana

Herb (field)

Agalinis aphylla, Agalinis filicaulis, Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum, Andropogon arctatus, Andropogon perangustatus, Anthaenantia rufa, Aristida patula, Aristida simpliciflora, Asclepias viridula, Balduina atropurpurea, Baptisia arachnifera, Burmannia biflora, Calopogon barbatus, Calopogon multiflorus, Calydorea coelestina, Carex chapmanii, Carex verrucosa, Cirsium lecontei, Cirsium virginianum, Coelorachis tuberculosa, Coreopsis floridana, Croton elliottii, Ctenium floridanum, Drosera tracyi, Elytraria caroliniensis var. angustifolia, Eriocaulon ravenelii, Eriochloa michauxii, Eryngium aquaticum var. ravenelii, Eupatorium anomalum, Eupatorium mohrii, Gentiana autumnalis, Harperella nodosa, Hartwrightia floridana, Helenium pinnatifidum, Helianthus carnosus, Helianthus floridanus, Hypericum adpressum, Iris tridentata, Lachnocaulon beyrichianum, Lachnocaulon minus, Linum floridanum var. chrysocarpum, Linum westii, Lobelia boykinii, Ludwigia curtissii, Ludwigia lanceolata, Ludwigia spathulata, Lysimachia loomisii, Macbridea caroliniana, Minuartia godfreyi, Narthecium americanum, Nemastylis floridana, Ophioglossum petiolatum, Orbexilum virgatum, Oxypolis ternata, Panicum abscissum, Parnassia caroliniana, Parnassia grandifolia, Peltandra sagittifolia, Plantago sparsiflora, Platanthera blephariglottis var. conspicua, Platanthera chapmanii, Platanthera integra, Pteroglossaspis ecristata, Rhexia aristosa, Rhynchospora cephalantha, Rhynchospora croatanensis, Rhynchospora culixa, Rhynchospora galeana, Rhynchospora globularis var. pinetorum, Rhynchospora oligantha, Rhynchospora pallida, Rhynchospora punctata, Rhynchospora thornei, Rudbeckia heliopsidis, Rudbeckia nitida, Ruellia noctiflora, Ruellia pedunculata ssp. pinetorum, Sabatia brevifolia, Sarracenia rubra ssp. rubra, Schwalbea americana, Senega hookeri, Smilax laurifolia, Spiranthes brevilabris, Spiranthes floridana, Spiranthes longilabris, Sporobolus curtissii, Sporobolus floridanus, Sporobolus pinetorum, Sporobolus teretifolius, Thalictrum cooleyi, Tiedemannia canbyi, Tridens carolinianus, Tridens flavus var. chapmanii, Trillium pusillum, Trillium pusillum var. pusillum, Verbesina heterophylla, Xyris brevifolia, Xyris difformis var. floridana, Xyris elliottii, Xyris flabelliformis, Xyris serotina, Xyris stricta, Zephyranthes simpsonii

Nonvascular

Bruchia hallii
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (14)

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.

Birds (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Florida Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensis pratensisG5T2

Amphibians (10)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Frosted Flatwoods SalamanderAmbystoma cingulatumG1
Oak ToadAnaxyrus quercicusG4
Green TreefrogDryophytes cinereusG5
Pine Woods TreefrogDryophytes femoralisG5
Squirrel TreefrogDryophytes squirellusG5
Gopher FrogLithobates capitoG2G3
Southern Leopard FrogLithobates sphenocephalusG5
Striped NewtNotophthalmus perstriatusG2
Southern Chorus FrogPseudacris nigritaG5
Little Grass FrogPseudacris ocularisG5

Butterflies & Moths (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Rattlesnake-master Borer MothPapaipema eryngiiG2

Insects (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
Nubile Short-wing GrasshopperMelanoplus nubilusG2G3

Molluscs (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
St. Johns LiptoothDaedalochila peninsulaeG2
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (90)

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
Coastal Plain False FoxgloveAgalinis aphyllaG3G4--
Thread-stem False FoxgloveAgalinis filicaulisG3--
Frosted Flatwoods SalamanderAmbystoma cingulatumG1Threatened
Georgia LeadplantAmorpha georgianaG1Under Review
Pinewoods BluestemAndropogon arctatusG3--
Florida Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensis pratensisG5T2--
Southern Three-awn GrassAristida simplicifloraG3G4--
Southern MilkweedAsclepias viridulaG2--
Purple BalduinaBalduina atropurpureaG2--
Hairy RattleweedBaptisia arachniferaG1G2Endangered
Hall's Bruchia MossBruchia halliiG2--
Many-flower Grass-pinkCalopogon multiflorusG3--
Bartram's IxiaCalydorea coelestinaG2G3--
Chapman's SedgeCarex chapmaniiG3--
Le Conte's ThistleCirsium leconteiG3--
Florida JointgrassCoelorachis tuberculosaG3--
Florida TickseedCoreopsis floridanaG3G4--
Elliott's CrotonCroton elliottiiG3--
Florida Orange-grassCtenium floridanumG2--
St. Johns LiptoothDaedalochila peninsulaeG2--
Tracy's SundewDrosera tracyiG3G4--
Narrowleaf Carolina ScalystemElytraria caroliniensis var. angustifoliaG4T2--
Ravenel's PipewortEriocaulon raveneliiG3G4--
Michaux's CupgrassEriochloa michauxiiG3G4--
Ravenel's EryngoEryngium aquaticum var. raveneliiG4T2T3--
Florida ThoroughwortEupatorium anomalumG2G3--
Pine Barren GentianGentiana autumnalisG3--
HarperellaHarperella nodosaG2Endangered
Florida HartwrightiaHartwrightia floridanaG2G3Under Review
Lakeside SunflowerHelianthus carnosusG1G2--
Creeping St. John's-wortHypericum adpressumG3--
Savanna IrisIris tridentataG3G4--
Small's BogbuttonLachnocaulon minusG3G4--
PondberryLindera melissifoliaG3Endangered
Yellow-fruit FlaxLinum floridanum var. chrysocarpumG5?T3?--
West's FlaxLinum westiiG1G2Under Review
Gopher FrogLithobates capitoG2G3Under Review
Boykin's LobeliaLobelia boykiniiG2?Under Review
Curtiss' SeedboxLudwigia curtissiiG3G4--
Lanceleaf SeedboxLudwigia lanceolataG3--
Spathulate SeedboxLudwigia spathulataG2--
Loomis' LoosestrifeLysimachia loomisiiG3?--
Carolina Birds-in-a-nestMacbridea carolinianaG3--
Nubile Short-wing GrasshopperMelanoplus nubilusG2G3--
Godfrey's StitchwortMinuartia godfreyiG1Under Review
Bog AsphodelNarthecium americanumG2--
Fall-flowering IxiaNemastylis floridanaG3--
Florida Bear-grassNolina atopocarpaG3--
Striped NewtNotophthalmus perstriatusG2--
Pineland ScurfpeaOrbexilum virgatumG1--
Savanna CowbaneOxypolis ternataG3--
Cut-throat GrassPanicum abscissumG3--
Rattlesnake-master Borer MothPapaipema eryngiiG2--
Carolina Grass-of-ParnassusParnassia carolinianaG3--
Largeleaf Grass-of-ParnassusParnassia grandifoliaG3G4--
Spoon-flowerPeltandra sagittifoliaG3G4--
Pineland PlantainPlantago sparsifloraG3--
Chapman's Fringed OrchidPlatanthera chapmaniiG2G3--
Yellow Fringeless OrchidPlatanthera integraG3G4--
Awned MeadowbeautyRhexia aristosaG3G4--
Croatan BeaksedgeRhynchospora croatanensisG1?--
Georgia BeakrushRhynchospora culixaG1Q--
Short-bristle BaldrushRhynchospora galeanaG3?--
Small's BeakrushRhynchospora globularis var. pinetorumG5?T3T4--
Pale BeakrushRhynchospora pallidaG3--
Dotted BeakrushRhynchospora punctataG1?--
Thorne's BeakrushRhynchospora thorneiG3--
Sun-facing ConeflowerRudbeckia heliopsidisG2Under Review
Shiny ConeflowerRudbeckia nitidaG3--
Night-flowering Wild PetuniaRuellia noctifloraG3?--
Stalked Wild PetuniaRuellia pedunculata ssp. pinetorumG5T2T3--
Shortleaf PinkSabatia brevifoliaG3G4--
Red-flowered Sweet PitcherplantSarracenia rubra ssp. rubraG3G4T3T4--
American ChaffseedSchwalbea americanaG2Endangered
Hooker's MilkwortSenega hookeriG3--
Texas Ladies'-tressesSpiranthes brevilabrisG1G2--
Florida Ladies'-tressesSpiranthes floridanaG1--
Giant-spiral Ladies'-tressesSpiranthes longilabrisG3--
Pineland DropseedSporobolus curtissiiG3--
Florida DropseedSporobolus floridanusG3--
Carolina DropseedSporobolus pinetorumG3--
Wireleaf DropseedSporobolus teretifoliusG2Under Review
Cooley's MeadowrueThalictrum cooleyiG1Endangered
Canby's DropwortTiedemannia canbyiG2Endangered
Carolina FluffgrassTridens carolinianusG3G4--
Chapman's RedtopTridens flavus var. chapmaniiG5T3--
Least TrilliumTrillium pusillum var. pusillumG4T3--
Diverseleaf CrownbeardVerbesina heterophyllaG2--
Acid-swamp Yellow-eyed-grassXyris serotinaG3G4--
Rain LilyZephyranthes simpsoniiG2G3--
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (18)

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 - Taxodium ascendens / Hypericum brachyphyllum / Sporobolus pinetorum - Dichanthelium scabriusculum WoodlandG2 NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Arundinaria tecta - Liquidambar styraciflua / Andropogon glomeratus - Sarracenia minor WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Clethra alnifolia - Gaylussacia frondosa - Quercus pumila / Schizachyrium scoparium WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus elliottii / Ctenium aromaticum - Aristida beyrichiana - (Sporobolus floridanus) WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - (Pinus elliottii) / Sporobolus pinetorum - Oclemena reticulata - (Sporobolus curtissii) WoodlandG2 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus elliottii / Styrax americanus / Sporobolus floridanus WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus serotina / Aristida palustris - Sarracenia flava WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus serotina / Ctenium aromaticum - Muhlenbergia expansa - Rhynchospora latifolia WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus serotina / Ctenium aromaticum - Scleria pauciflora - Sarracenia flava WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus serotina / Ilex glabra - Lyonia lucida - (Serenoa repens) WoodlandG3 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus serotina / Sporobolus pinetorum - (Aristida stricta) - Eryngium integrifolium WoodlandG2 NatureServe
Pinus palustris - Pinus (serotina, taeda) / Sporobolus curtissii - Muhlenbergia expansa WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Schizachyrium scoparium - Muhlenbergia expansa - Arnoglossum ovatum WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Serenoa repens - Ilex glabra WoodlandG2 NatureServe
Pinus palustris / Serenoa repens - Vaccinium myrsinites / Aristida beyrichiana - Sporobolus curtissii WoodlandG2 NatureServe
Pinus serotina - (Pinus palustris) / Saccharum spp. - Eupatorium semiserratum - Sabatia campanulata WoodlandG1 NatureServe
Quercus phellos - Quercus similis - Pinus palustris / Crataegus spp. / Carex cherokeensis Wet ForestG1 NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (3)

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
GASNR
SCSNR
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.