Maritime Forest Hammocks
Betsy Purdum
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Extensive stands of oak hammock are located along the uplands
adjacent to the west boundary of Guana Lake. The maritime forest
is a broad-leaved evergreen forest shaped by wind and salt spray
and characterized by “flag-form” trees such as those
along Guana Lake. The overstory consists of live oak, laurel oak,
slash pine, southern red cedar, cabbage palm, pignut hickory,
southern magnolia, and red bay. The understory varies from dense
stands of saw palmetto to relatively open grassy areas with a
few low shrubs.
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