Natural Communities
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Chris Tucker
Sandhill
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Over half of the Fort White's acreage embraces sandhills
habitat where wiregrass, gopher apple, runner oak, and other
groundcovers are well established. Canopy coverage is dominated by
longleaf pine, but hardwoods, mostly sand live oak, and turkey oak and
red bay, have moved into some areas. Within the sandhills, small plots
cleared for cultivation by previous landowners have been colonized by
sand live oak and longleaf pine. Herbicides and prescribed fire help
control the spread of hardwoods in this habitat. Pinelands previously
managed for timber production comprise about 15% of the area’s acreage.
Slash pine is the dominant overstory species, with loblolly and longleaf
also represented. This area was thinned in the initial management phase.
Hardwood swamp occurs in a narrow band along the Santa Fe River. These
regularly inundated wetlands are dominated by pond cypress, with
scattered black gum, red maple, and sweetbay. Understory and groundcover
are usually sparse due to frequent flooding but sometimes include such
species as buttonbush, lizard's-tail, and various ferns. Several small
ponds, located in the southern portion of the tract, dry and refill in
response to seasonal rainfall. Hardwood hammock, dominated by live oak,
with water oak, wild cherry, sweetgum, and pignut hickory, is
interspersed throughout the area in low-lying, poorly drained areas.
