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).

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain 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.

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Swamp Forests

These include the cypress-gum and white cedar forests. The most typical tree in the former is Taxodium distichum Bald Cypress, although T. ascendens Pond Cypress becomes the main species in the more sandy areas. Their buttressed trunks provide the archetype image of these forests. Other trees and shrubs include the endemic Fraxinus caroliniana (Oleaceae), Itea virginica (Iteaceae), Magnolia virginiana (Magnoliaceae), Nyssa ogeche, N. sylvatica var. biflora (Cornaceae) and Persea borbonia (Lauraceae). In some of the seasonally flooded areas in the southeast hardwood species such as Quercus lyrata and the endemic Carya aquatica (Juglandaceae) and Carpinus caraliniana (Betulaceae) become more conspicuous. The white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) forests are mainly associated with deep peat in the Middle Atlantic States. In some cases this species can account for up to 95% of the canopy cover. Associated shrubs include the endemic Ilex coriacea (Aquifoliaceae).

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Sand Dunes (Northern Carolina)

Phytogeographically this coastal dune zone extends from Cape Lookout in the south to Chesapeake Bay (Cape Henry) in the North. All the dune systems appear to be acidic and the following dune zones have been described.

Strandlines
These are well developed on some beaches. The main annual species include Cakile edentula, Euphorbia polygonifolia and Salsola kali, while typical perennial species are the grasses Panicum amarum and Panicum amarulum.

Embryonic Dunes
These occur as a low foredune ridges up to 2 m high. Most of the vegetation appears to be monospecific and grass dominated. In the south the main species is Uniola paniculata but towards the north (near Virginia Beach) this is replaced by Ammophila breviligulata.

Foredunes
In this zone the foredune ridge is naturally low and frequently disrupted by the strong onshore winds and occasional hurricanes. Uniola paniculata is the main sand binding species but it is not as effective as Ammophila breviligulata. For this reason Ammophila breviligulata often planted in to regions south of its natural distribution.

Sheltered regions within the foredune zone
This is relatively narrow zone (less than 50 m) but provides habitat for several species including Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Oenothera humifusa and Strophostyles helvola.

Pioneer Dune Scrub
The main species here are the two evergreen shrubs Myrica cerifera and Ilex vomitoria. The former is able to fix nitrogen.

Blowouts
Small blowouts are frequent and mainly colonised by the bunch grass Andropogon scoparius. These have been described as steppe-like communities.

Short dune grasslands
These do not appear to be a major feature and no calcareous dune grasslands are present.

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Pocosins (shrubby swamps) information required

Further general information required.

References

Avery, G. N & Loope, L. L. 1980. Endemic Taxa in the Flora of South Florida. U.S. National Park Service South Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park. Report T-558.

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. 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.

Doing, H. 1981. A comparative scheme of dry coastal sand dune habitat, with examples from the eastern United States and some other temperate regions. Veroff. Geobot. Inst. Rubel, 77: 41-72.

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.

James, C. W. 1961. Endemism in Florida. Brittonia, 13: 225-244.

McKell, C. M. & Garcia-Moya, E. 1989. North American Shrublands. In: The Biology and Utilization of Shrubs. Ed. C. M. McKell. Academic Press, Inc.

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

Reimold, R. J. 1977. Mangals and salt marsh of eastern United States. In: Ecosystems of the World 1 - Wet Coastal Ecosystems. Ed. V. J. Chapman. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.

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

Wright, A. H. & Wright, A. A. 1932. The habitats and composition of the vegetation of the Okefinokee Swamp, Georgia. Ecological Monographs, 2: 109-232.