FNAI COMMUNITY:

Scrub

STAGE DESCRIPTION

• Overstory: Open canopy cover of 0-15% consisting of slash, longleaf, and sand pine (Breininger et al., 1999; Myers, 1990).  Scrub hickory may be present (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).  Trees stand around 45 feet in height (Myers, 1990).
• Mid Story: Mosaic of short and optimal oak scrub with no tall scrub.  An area the size of a Scrub-jay territory (about 20 acres of scrub) is composed of a mosaic of shrubs that are shorter than 4 feet in height dispersed among shrubs that are between 4 and 6 feet in height.  Very few shrubs (covering less than an acre) grow taller than 6 feet (Breininger et al., 1999).  Shrub layer mostly dominated by oaks (greater than or equal to 50%), including myrtle oak, sand live oak, and Chapman's oak.  Saw palmetto, Florida rosemary, and rusty lyonia are scattered throughout the oaks (Myers, 1990).
• Ground Cover: Sparse ground cover with numerous exposed white sandy patches, exposing 10-50% of the ground.  Some of these bare patches may be covered with ground lichens.  Other vegetation includes gopher apple, beak rush, and milk peas (Breininger et al., 1999; Myers, 1990).