Included here is the Atlantic and Gulf states of the United States from New Jersey to Florida and west to southeastern Texas.

Hardwood Forests

In the absence of fire the climatic climax vegetation over much of northern Florida and southern Georgia is thought to be a mixed deciduous and evergreen forest dominated by Fagus grandifolia and the endemic Magnolia grandifolia (Magnoliaceae) and several endemic evergreen oaks such as Quercus laurifolia and Q. virginiana (Fagaceae). Other endemic trees include Carpinus caroliniana (Betulaceae) and Prunus caroliniana (Rosaceae). But today these forests are confined to small refugia such as on river bluffs.

References

Baskin. J. M. & Baskin, C. C. 2003. The vascular flora of cedar glades of the southeastern United States and its phytogeographical relationships. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, 130: 101-118.

Christman, S. P. & Judd, W. S. 1990. Notes on plants endemic to Florida scrub. Florida Scientist, 53: 52-73.

Christensen, N. L. 1989. Vegetation of the southeastern coastal plain. In: North American Terrestrial Vegetation. Eds. M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings.  Cambridge University Press.

Cooper, A. W. 1979. The natural vegetation of North Carolina. In: Contributions to the knowledge of flora and vegetation in the Carolinas. Eds. H. Leith and E. Landolt. VGI Zurich.

Estill, J. C. & Cruzan, M. B. 2001. Phytogeography of rare plant species endemic to the southeastern United States. Castanea, 66: 3-23.

Greller, A. M. 1989. Deciduous Forest.  In: North American Terrestrial Vegetation. Eds. M. G. Barbour & W. D. Billings. Cambridge University Press.

Qian, H. 1999. Floristic analysis of vascular plant genera of North America north of Mexico: characterization and phytogeography.  Journal of Biogeography, 26: 1307-1321.

Ricketts, T. h. et al. 1999. Terrestrial Ecosystems of North America - a conservation assessment. World Wildlife Fund, USA and Canada. Island Press, Washington.