A review of the Temperate Broad-Leaved Evergreen Forest zone of southeastern North America: Floristic affinities and arborescent vegetation types |
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Authors: | Andrew M Greller |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology Queens College, CUNY, 11367 Flushing, NY, USA;(2) The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, 10016 New York, NY, USA |
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Abstract: | The Temperate Broad-Leaved Evergreen Forest (TBEF) zone is centered in peninsular Florida. It is characterized by mainly nontropical
taxa that form an evergreen dicot forest, often with aSabal palm in the canopy, in which deciduous dicot trees are present but rarely become local dominants. The Madrean-Tethyan floristic
affinities of this life zone are briefly discussed, as is plant endemism, and a recommendation is given for recognizing it
as a separate phytochorion, the Central Floridian Subprovince, in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Province of southeastern
North America. Also recommended for separate status is the Apalachicolan Subprovince, in the panhandle of Florida and adjacent
Georgia and Alabama. These recommendations follow an earlier recognition of the floristic uniqueness of both areas (Greller,
2000). Three physiographical regions in the TBEF are recognized: Peninsular Florida (including the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal
regions); the Atlantic Outer Coastal Plain, Sea Islands and Outer Banks; and the Gulf Coastal Shores, Islands, Prairies and
Marshes (from panhandle Florida west to Louisiana and Texas). Following Heinrich Walter’s zonobiome classification system,
one zonobiome and two zonoecotones are recognized for the TBEF region. Following a literature review, a classification of
TBEF ligneous, mainly arborescent, vegetation types is given. The article ends with brief discussions of some lowland and
a number of montane arborescent vegetation types of the Greater Antilles and of Baja California related to TBEF flora and
vegetation. |
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