Hydric and mesic hammocks are usually found on low, flat, wet areas where limestone is present just below the surface.  Soils consist of sands mixed with organic material that are inundated only after heavy rains.  The hydroperiod is rarely over 60 days.  Hydric and mesic hammocks are well developed hardwood and cabbage palm forests with a understory often dominated by palms and ferns.  Other typical plants include diamond-leaf oak, red cedar, red maple, swamp bay, sweetbay, water oak, southern magnolia, wax myrtle, saw palmetto, bluestem palmetto, needle palm, dahoon holly, hackberry, sweetgum, loblolly pine, Florida elm, swamp chestnut oak, royal fern, peppervine, and Virginia creeper (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).

Since hydric and mesic hammock soils are generally saturated and their groundcover is usually sparse, fire in this community is very infrequent.  Fire would effect hydric and mesic hammocks only under drought conditions (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).

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