FNAI COMMUNITY:

Scrub

STAGE DESCRIPTION

• Overstory: An open to closed pine canopy cover of 15-65% may or may not be present (Breininger at al., 1999; Myers, 1990).  Many areas include closed canopies of mature oaks at or above 6 feet in height (Breininger et al., 1999).  Scrub hickory may be present (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).
• Mid Story: Mix of tall scrub and short and/or optimal scrub.  An area the size of a Scrub-jay territory (about 20 acres of scrub) is composed of a mix of shrubs that are mostly taller than 6 feet in height with some shrubs that are shorter than 6 feet in height (Breininger et al., 1999).  Shrub layer consists of oaks (between 5 and 49%), including myrtle oak, sand live oak, and Chapman's oak.  Saw palmetto and rusty lyonia make up the other half to 95% of shrub layer cover.  Florida rosemary and other shrubs are scattered throughout (Myers, 1990).
• Ground Cover: Few exposed white sandy patches with most ground continuously covered with shrubs or dense grasses over 1 foot in height.  Shrub layer is taller and more dense than short/optimal stage and includes gopher apple, beak rush, and milk peas (Breininger et al., 1999)