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

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Pine Barrens

Much of the BioProvince is characterized by pine forest. In the area north of Delaware Bay Pinus rigida pitch pine and to a lesser extend Pinus echinata shortleaf pine are the main species. To the south of Delaware Bay, the endemic pines Pinus palustris and Pinus elliottii (Pinaceae) are dominant, together with Pinus taed.Pinus palustris and the grass Aristida stricta are the characteristic species of the coarse sandy soils commonly found throughout this zone. Other endemic trees include Nyssa sylvatica var. sylvatica (Cornaceae), Quercus virginiana, Q. laevis (Fagaceae), while endemic shrubs include Carya floridana (Juglandaceae), Cornus florida (Cornaceae) and Pinus clausa (Pinaceae).

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Pine Flatwoods and Savannas

With increasing moisture the xeric sand hill communities grade into pine flatwoods and savannas. The term flatwood is used locally to describe the flat coastal plain forests. In Florida, endemic pines such as Pinus elliottii and P. clausa (Pinaceae) are conspicuous species. Other endemic trees include Persea borbonia (Lauraceae). Under storey shrubs include the endemic shrub oak Quercus chapmanii (Fagaceae), Ilex coriacea (Aquifoliaceae) and several endemic palms including Sabal minor, Sabal palmetto and Serenoa repens (Arecaceae). In the wetter areas the endemic Pinus serotina (Pinaceae) together with other endemics such as Gordonia lasianthus (Theaceae) occur as part of the natural succession from swamp forest. The associated savannas included grasses such as Ctenium aromaticum, Muhlenbergia expansa and Sporobolus teretifolius, and a huge diversity of herbs. Indicative species include Lachnocaulon anceps, Xyris smalliana and the endemic clubmoss Lycopodium carolinia (Lycopodiaceae). These also include wetland areas and perhaps the most distinctive plants of these are the many insectivorous species including Drosera capillaris, species of Pinquicula and Sarracenia including the endemic Sarracenia alata, S. leucophylla, S. minor and S. psittacina (Sarraceniaceae) and the endemic Venus flytrap Dionaea muscipula (Droseraceae).

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.

Christensen, N. L. 1979. The xeric sand hill and savanna ecosystems of the southeastern Atlantic Coastal Plain. In: Contributions to the knowledge of flora and vegetation in the Carolinas. Eds. H. Leith and E. Landolt. VGI Zurich.

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.

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.