Florida high: now landlocked within the peninsula, an ancient dune preserves the stamp of its past

ROBERT H. MOHLENBROCK is professor emeritus of plant biology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Habitats

Sandhill Longleaf pine is joined by blackjack oak, bluejack oak, sand post oak, and turkey oak. Plants beneath those trees include Curtiss' milkweed, dwarf pawpaw, shiny blueberry, and numerous kinds of grasses. The endangered Lewton's milkwort and even Florida jujube--one of the rarest shrubs in the United States--also live in the sandhills.

Scrub Endangered or threatened species include Britton's beargrass, Carter's mustard, Florida bonamia (a gorgeous member of the morning-glory family), Florida gayfeather (also known as scrub blazing star), Highlands scrub Saint-John's-wort, papery whitlowwort, pygmy fringe tree, scrub buckwheat, scrub plum, two kinds of jointweed, three kinds of leguminous plants (Avon Park rattlebox, Small's milk pea, and sweet-scented pigeonwings), and two members of the mint family.

Among the common trees and plants are big-flowered pawpaw, Chapman oak, Florida rosemary, myrtle oak, rusty staggerbush, sand live oak, saw palmetto, the scrub oak Quercus inopina, and scrub palmetto.

Flatwoods Longleaf and slash pines are the dominant trees above a diverse shrub layer of big gallberry, two kinds of small-leaved blueberries, gallberry, and saw palmetto. The early-spring-blooming yellow jessamine vine is usually present. Wildflowers include Bartram's rose gentian, pale meadow beauty, and variable-leaf sunflower.

Bayhead Sweet bay is the dominant species of bay tree. Other trees that grow in the bayhead soil, which is usually a nutrient-rich organic muck, are loblolly bay, red bay, and swamp bay. Among the many shrubs are highbush blueberry, small-leaf arrowwood, and swamp dogwood. Coastal Plain tickseed and sweet broom are common wildflowers.

Bottomland hardwood forest Cabbage palm, live oak, red maple, and sweet gum are prominent among the diverse species of trees. Dahoon holly, with its shiny evergreen leaves and brilliant scarlet berries, is a dominant shrub or small tree. Among the wildflowers are eastern bluestar and yellow crownbeard.

Seepage slope Cutthroat grass forms a fairly solid cover, interspersed with myrtle-leaved Saint-John's-wort, pine lily, and silver dwarf morning glory.

Seasonal pond Typical wetland plants include two kinds of arrowheads, common buttonbush, marsh mermaid weed, pickerelweed, yellow water lily, water hemlock, and an aquatic fern known as water spangles.

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