This is the first of a series of articles describing the Natural Communities
Inventory (FNAJ).As explained In the February, 1983, Palmetto, this classification system must be viewed as a upon an infinite variety of growing, changing, intergrading, natural environments. Hence, more often than not, a given site will not precisely fit the classic description of the appropriate naturalcommunity.Belowarepresented idealized profiles of three related upfand
communities.By practicingcomparing these to vegetation observed in the field, an interested naturalist should be able to learn to identify plant accurately and contribute information to conservation
Sandhilloccurson rolling marine-deposited yellowish the Norfolk, lakeland, series. Though these well-drained high pinelands are considered environments, they do continued
SANDHILL
desert-like as the Scrub.
FNAI has defined nine Sandhill plant communities:
Slash Pine/Turkey Oak Hills
. BluejackSandhill
CoastalLongleafSandhill
Coastal SlashPine Sandhill, and Turkey Oak Sandhill.
They all have a thin pine (Pinus
incana, and/or others), and an understory dominated by wiregrass (Aristida stricta).
. Longleaf/SandPineForestand
. Scrubby Longleaf Pine Forest have a sparse, shrubby Classicunderstory.
open Sandhills carpeted with wiregrass are maintained by frequent burning of the dense ground cover. About every 2-5years, afire sweepsthrough and burns back encroaching oaks and shrubs. Longleaf pines are extremely fire
resistant and arescarcelydamaged by
not been burned regularly (or have been logged) and the scrubbier sandhill types develop only where fire is a relatively rare occurrence.
Sandhill covers extensive areas of the southeastern coastal plain. In Florida it is most abundant in the central ridge of the peninsula into Highlands County. Although Sandhill is still widespread, undisturbed examples are quite rare. Almost all tracts have been logged and most have been plowed, grazed, or overly
sites will eventually recover if seed trees are left, but many develop into dense standsof oaks.Wiregrassrarely
restore on sites where it has been shaded out or chopped up. (Recent research indicating that wiregrass
might be useful in restoration of damaged sites, but reestablishing a full complement of herbaceous species would still be challenging.) Distribution of the scrubbier sandhill types is poorly documented and
limited. Coastal sites are disappearing especially rapidly.
Typical Sandhill species include those mentioned above plus: sand post oak (Quercus margaretta), sparkleberry(Vacciniumarboreum),
Clitoria, Da/ea, Rhynchosia, and Baptisia species,are often numerous.
Rarespeciesgenerally restricted to Sandhill habitat include scrub
g/abra), bent goldenaster (Heterotheca f/exuosa), Carex baltzellii, and Ca/amintha dentata.
Scrub isfound on high sanddunes and ridges along former shorelines.
or lakewood fine sand creates a blazingly hot daytime environment and moder~es the evening chill. Since the loose sand drains rapidly, this creates a very xeric environment for plants unable to extend their roots deeply enough to tap subsurface moisture in the underlying clayey yellow soils.
communities. Sand Pine Scrub, Sand Pine/TurkeyOak Scrub,TurkeyOak Scrub, and Slash Pine Scrub are generally shrubby habitats with a variable canopy of the named tree species (Pinus clausa,Quercus laevis, havemanyof thesameshrubs,butno geminata)and/or Chapman'soak(Q.
inopina). In Rosemary Scrub, the oaks are interspersed with rosemary
palmetto (Serenoa repens). Tropical Scrub develops where tropical hammock species, such aswild coffee (Psychotria spp.), have begun to invade an unburned site.
Scrub is a fire-maintained community, adapted to regenerate rapidly after infrequent catastrophic fires.A 30to 40yearintervalbetween fires would be considered "normal" for many Scrub sites.Firehistory, soil variations, and allelopathy are all thought to be significant factors in Scrub succession, but the interrelationships among community types are still poorly understood.
Classic Scrub with sand pine is found only in Florida, but there are scrub-like oak/rosemary communities scattered across the sandy regions of the southeast. Most of the Florida Scrub is along the coast, on the Lake Wales Ridge down the center of the peninsula, or in the Ocala National Forestregion. Sinceit occupies high, dry sites ideal for construction or agriculture, scrub is disappearing rapidly. Tropical Scrub
RosemaryScrub, a scarcetype which is the habitat for many endemic plants, hasits richest diversity of rare species in Highlands county, where the last remnants risk conversion to
Pine Scrub are still quite common, but much of the sand pine type is in commercial forests.
(Prunus genicu/ata), Ashe's mint (Ca/aminthaashei),pygmyfringetree
by Doris Rosebraugh
brevifolia), Paronychia chartacea, and Po/ygonella ciliata var. basiramia are found only in central Florida
pawpaw (Asimina tetramera), and
REDBERRY STOPPER(Eugenia confusa)
West and Arnold only commented
floridana) isa TampaBayareascrub
by Elias correctly states it is the most common of our native eugenias, but
.MMOCK
without fire. Sand live oak (Quercus geminata) and fetterbush (Lyonia ferruginea) form a canopy of low
trees that shades out most other species except saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). Scrubby Sandhill Hammock results when a Sandhill with a shrubby understory goes unburned. This forms an open woodland of small oaks, typically turkey oak (Quercus laevis), sand postoak(Q.margaretta),liveoak(Q.
marilandica), and/or southern red
continued on page 10
intermediate canopy or understory, taller than broad. A 40-foot specimen would be old under true hammock conditions.
My "twig" of 21/2 feet, given extra
This makes it a nice filler in the native border.
The outstanding feature of this tree is its leaves. Simple, opposite, evergreen, uniformly wide to broadest near the base, they taper to long, slender drip points. Dark green in color, they appear to have been sprayed with an artificial coating. Growth habit sends delicate branches
seem to layer. The glistening leaves, face up, intensify the effect of the light.
with applications of chelated iron, renews its green. The fact that it still looks so great in less than ideal soil conditions shows what a survivor it is.
Design uses are numerous. With its narrow, rounded crown elegant entry specimen and several could be grouped together for real dazzle. As a relatively slow grower, it could be used asa container tree on a patio. This is truly an outstanding native with its carefully sculptured leaves, reddish trunk, and compact appearance. It is a neat tree in more ways than one.
As it is listed ascold tolerant, I would try it along the protected coastal areas to Vero Beach.
by Joseph Cascio
Discussion of transplanting at the recent conference stirred memories of the good old dayswhen I thought
business.
continue to experiment to learn the desirable for use in the landscape.
store.
but it wasmostly the material that was difficult to dig easily, like the prostrate junipers and firethorns.
else,whowasthesourceofoneof his you want to do; go to work for the man that does it best; listen to him, watch what he does and what he doesn't do; learn everything he can teach you; then go and do it on your
InsuranceCompany,Pratt&Whitney
by hand for another.
Tree moving wasaspecialty that he
and he had a truck built that assured success.It wasone of akind. Eachtree
series of four winches: one to lift the top, one the ball, athird to trolley the ball in and out of the truck, and the fourth for the typical straight horizontal pulls needed for moving the tree on the ground or in the hole.
root ball 15 feet in diameter, though most were in the 10-to 12-foot range. (In a future article I'll describe another tree transplant, a huge
construction of a large insurance house by tunnelling under the ball and placing huge beams beneath. I'll get back to that, but I want to discuss find of use.)
I hope someone in the society will develop such a list for tropical trees for our ignorance of their needs.
generalities about the transplanting of oaks, pines, etc. with the implication that what isgood for one species is good for the genus. After theconference,Icheckedmy
stone fruits in the fall; it's too risky." I wasn't sure what astone fruit was, but I enjoyed imagining what that might be.
feel that skill and care are essential, in thenweslowlygatherspecifics.Some
not to generalize. Many oaks such as taproot systemfromwhichsecondary roots extend at various soil levels.
(Q. pa/ustris)havethe mostbeautiful
and lots of dense, twiggy growth,
northern Florida,hasboth atap root and,like manyother membersof the magnoliafamily,fleshyrootsthatare from severed tips until the next growing season.
You should know the idiosyncravaried sites, root development is timefor newrootsto formbeforethe undergoesmanystresses.Thelandis inform the readers and members, transplanting operations.
American planetree, sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
American elm (Ulmus americana)
landscapecontractor in South Florida capable of moving a large tree
have sought out the best and have been disappointed with every tree. I haveaskedothersif mystandards are too high, or if trees have to be
donous trees the world over. Wemustimprovetheprofessionaltrees in South Florida. Let us not pledge; refuse to pass it off as "just the wayit'salwaysdonedown here." established processes?
which you are responsible be constructed according to your standards, not by current local practice.
what he is expected to do before he submits a price to do it "your way."
3. Require, in your specification, conformance to a clearlycontinuednextpage
is the average trunk diameter at a predetermined point of measurement. In size grading of B&B trees, caliper shall take precedence over heights, at 6-foot height and above.
Caliper of the trunk shall be taken 6 inches above the ground 'evel up to and including 4-inch caliper size,and 12 inches above the ground level for larger sizes. Where trunk is not perfectly round, caliper shall be the average between the minimum and maximum measurement.
If only one size is given, (2"), that size will be the minimum size allowable for that grade and shall include plants from that size up to but not including the next larger size (2 1/2").
If a size range is given, (2-2 1/2"), the minimum size allowable for that grade is 2", the maximum size allowable for that grade is 2 1/2".
HEIGHT is the distance measured in feet and/or inches from ground level to the average top of the tree. Where tree has dominant central leader, the top of the central leader is the average top of the tree.
If only one size is given, (12'), that size will be the minimum size allowable for that grade and shall include plants not including the next larger size plus one (16').
tf a size range is given, (12-14'), the minimum size allowable for that grade is 12', the maximum size allowable for that grade is 16'. The average sizeshould not exceed14'; however, with caliper taking precedence, wider height range must be permitted.
In shrubs, where caliper is not a primary factor, the maximum size for size range at 2-3' is 3', as one would expect.
SPREAD is the distance measured in feet and/or inches across the average diameter of the plant. Where the plant is not perfectly round, spread shall be the average between the and measurement taken at the height of maximum spread.
If only one size is given, (3'), that size will be the minimum size allowable for that grade and shall not including the next larger size(4'). continuednextpage
prescribed process or to a clearly-defined performance. There has been much written on how to do it, by authors such as P.P. Pirone and Richard Fenska, but the best currently Box71,Urbana,Il61801.Order it today. . .everyone.
contractor exactly what you
The rule of thumb for ball diameter of large trees is 10" per 1" trunk diameter, so take a bag of lime or can of sp.raypaint and around the base of your 6" expect the ball to be about 21/2
the tree and explain that you want the main structural branching to remain intact; you want the entire canopy to remain intact; and you want root loss compensated for by carefully thinning out the
saws and shears (not treeremoval saws). Ask him if he is mentally and physically equipped to follow those
requirements and preserve the integrity of the tree.
5. Explain the initial maintenance program which you propose for this tree, in detail. Describe the benefits of the antidessicant spray,the liquid fertilizer, heavy mulching, the soil wetting agent, deep watering, etc., so that he understands why the
benefit the tree.
I cannot believe a contractor would prefer to hat-rack a large tree for transplanting, if he knew how to
compensated for it.
I invite your comment. Isthere an argument against this type of care? Write the editor, and get involved in moving good trees without changing their appearance.
Other essential tools of reference: FromAAN,230SouthernBuilding, Washington,DC 20005at$4.00, "American Standard for Nursery Stock"
From NLA, 832Southern Building, Washington, DC 20005at $7.50, "Landscape Designer and Estimator's Guide"
I. 1?emov~.5{)t!.kevsh{)li:s at ~ of--ffee
Z..a..1ai<e.de8+'! eu.-f:s0#'1old ~, if -pr-eserrt.
GUIDELINES from page 5
If a size range is given, (3-4'), the minimum size allowable for that grade is 3'; the maximum size allowable for that grade is 4'.
In the case of trees, as explained with height, the average width should not exceed the range of the next larger size, say 4-5'. This is to material within a caliper size.
ROOT BALL SPECIFICATION
Balled and Burlapped (B&B) is the term to describe plants with roots established in an earthen ball and wrapped tightly with burlap sacking or similar fabric. large balls over 30" and most balls in sandy soils should
always be of a diameter and depth to encompass enough fibrous and feedrng root system for the full recovery of the plant.
The soil must be capable of holding together without any breaking, cracking, or crumbling. The wrapping must be securely pinned, tied. bound, or wired.
3. f?eJJ1Ove.efi6vec;u~/'f oF -6A>1.!!JS811d ~s O)1~
the landscape use of native plants, standards must be presented, Jernigan,Inc.,889N.OrangeAve.,
its depth, as with large surface-rooted trees, the ball must be balled, burlapped, and then platformed (BB&P) bysecuringthe preparedball
sled, to facilitate transportation without cracking the rootball.
When the ball isunusually deep for its width, aswith taprooted or deeprooted trees, or trees dug with atree spade, the ball must be secured in a structural burlap-lined basketof wire
transportation without cracking the rootball.
factors as size of plant, species of plant, type of local soil, and extent of maintenance available after planting; in setting standards for the industry, this last factor is not a consideration.
caliper tree will have an 18" diameter ball, a2" tree hasa2'ball, a3"tree has a3' ball, a4" tree hasa4' ball, anda5"
caliper have 10" of ball diameter for every inch of trunk diameter. There are many charts available with specific ratios of ball-to-trunk dimension.
by Joseph Cascio
McDougall defines plant ecology asthe science of the interrelations of plants and their environments, apart of general or bio-ecology, which deals with the interrelations of all living things and their environments. Therefore, a complete study of plant ecology must include consideration of animal ecology because plant and animal ecologies are partsof the total interrelated. Costing's' Plant Communities tells us that plants depend on animalsto provide carbon dioxide, transport seedsand natural fertilizers, and alter the soil structure and chemistry. Animals in turn depend on certain plants for the production of food, oxygen, and nitrates.
effects that organisms have on each other; and the factors affecting the interrelationships include competition for water, light, and nitrates, stratification, and dependence. This community, which he defined as an aggregation of living organisms having mutual relationships among themselves and to their environment, varies from a mat of lichens on a rock to a fairly homogeneous composition of a one thousand acre forest.
Vegetation can be defined as the plant communities that occupy the earth's surface, their structures and further defined natural vegetation as the untouched, or virgin, plant communities, unaltered by man; and semi-natural vegetation asconsisting or basicunitsof vegetation.Hewrote that the individuals of each species are not randomly scattered, but distributed in a pattern. Costing wrote of these patterns as mutual relationships. These relationships included all the direct and indirect
A GUIDE TO THE VASCULAR
by
Richard P.Wunderlin, Univ. of South Florida Press,Tampa, Florida, 1982. 472 pp. $25.00.
In a letter to the Editor (Palmetto, May, 1983), Elliott Brown mentioned that Small's Manual of the Southeastern Flora (1933) is out of print. As ageneral reference book for Central Florida flora (excluding ferns and allies), Small's Manual has been our most comprehensive test for identification.
Besidesthis loss,many floristic and taxonomic changes have occurred
community, or even of just aspecies, including all those operative factors that influence the plants themselves - except competition - is the habitat in the words of BraunBlanquet, echoed by MacDougall.
Daubenmire adds the synonym~ of ecotype and biotype, defining habitat as a specific kind of living space or environment, a constellation of interacting physical and biologic factors which provide at least minimal conditions for one organism to live, or agroup to appear together.
operative factors of the habitat are: 1) the climatic, or atmospheric factors; 2) the edaphic, or soil, factors; 3) the orographic, or topographic, factors, and 4) the biotic factors (the effects of the living environment).
The difference between habitat and environment is in scope. Gosting explains that, within a particular environment, there is a range of conditions associated with those
PALMmo, August, 1983, Page 11 operative factors which determine the habitat of each plant community.
In south Florida, vegetation is described in terms of physiographic regions by ecologists such asHarper, Davis, and Alexander. In the remaining natural areassouth of the
named: Big Cypressregions A, B,and
Ridge; Southern Coast and Islands; Western Flatland; EasternFlatland.
that occur within the ecosystem are called plant succession. plant succession is an orderly sequence of changing plant communities that
particular site. Alexander explains in his 1973 study of the area that generally a plant community has its
conditions which are different from any other community. Also each community alters the habitat in a unique way asit ages,making it ready for succession into the pioneers of the next community.
Aswe drive 1-95,we seepineland in transition into hardwood. Along the coastal roads in south Florida, coastal strands and beaches thrive where mangroves once started trapping sand and organic matter.
often frustrating without apicture, or referencing several texts. Usually by the time I go through the full process, the specimen has wilted and dried beyond recognition.
The Guide to the VascularPlantsof Central Florida fills the void and bridges the gap for serious amateur botanists and students alike.
In the text, the complete flora (native and naturalized) of thirty
and Broward in the south, is keyed and listed by plant families with genus and species listed alphabetically. Plant descriptions are omitted, and the brief botanical nomenclature used in simple descriptive keys are defined in the glossary. This comprehensive reference book
names. I find this very useful for those plants for which I recall only a common name or genus.
Additionally, a brief description of habitat, statement of general distribution in Central Florida, region of activity, whether exotic, season of sexual reproduction, and pertinent synonomy follows each species through simplified identification. A
enough for use asafield guide, listing all the flowering and non-flowering plants of Central Florida, has finally arrived and is a joy to use. It's my
landscape architect and an amateur botanist, identification of plants found along roadsides and in romps tn thp wnnn~ h~~nrnvpn nifficlJlt ~nn . DavidDrvlie
NAPLES
by CaptainK.C.Alvare7
The Fakahatchee Strand is one of several distinct natural communities in
southwestern Florida. The dense, heavily known as "strands" because they tend to be narrow and elongated.There are a
Swamp.The Fakahatche~Strand State Preserve is the largest of these, and it is the principal drainage slough of the western part of the Big CypressSwamp.
The main part of the Preserveisa large, mixed hardwood swamp. It was once dominated by bald cypresses, royal palms, and sabal palms, but following extensive logging operations, the dominant trees are red maples, laurel oaks, and bald cypresses. Within this mixedhardwoodswampareseverallow hammocks, and also numerous small lakes that occur in a central slough that occupies the center of the mixed
through the FakahatcheeStrand. In 1966, have been remedied. Hydrological the Lee-Tidewater Cypress ComRany sold data has been gathered for the past Company for $7,500,000.It wasbought for will be made in 1983to determine the resale aspart of Golden Gate Estatesand Preserve'shydrological needs. sold off in 1 1/4-acre lots. In 1972,the 2. Land Acquisition
with G.A.C. Properties,and in1974,44,000 the FakahatcheeStrand StatePreserve acres were purchased by the state. encompassed approximately 60,000
The Fakahatchee is an extraordinary ~cres. The initia.1 purchase in 1974 repository of ecological values. It Included approximately 44,000 acres contains the largest stand of Florida royal within this proposal; very little
.::ontains the largest concentration and land adjacent to the original proposal __Iegreatest variety of native orchids in have been identified as valuable North America. At leasttwelve speciesof buffers that should alsobe purchased. plants that do not occur elsewhere in Acquisition of these additional lands is North America are found in the vital to the proper management of the
Panthers. Other rare and endangered this problem is passage of an eminent speciesof animals arealsofound there." domain bill. Passageof such a bill has
facing the Fakahatchee Strand are:
Borderingthe mixedhardwoodswamp within the Preserve boundaries are freshwater marshes, wet prairies, cypress flatwoodsislands.Tothesouthof u.S.41, also within the Preserveboundaries, are several coastal communities including mangrove swamps, salt m;lr~he~. "n~ several tidal creeks.
the lee-Tidewater Cypress Company in 1913for $1,400,000.In 1922,they gavean option to HenryFord,whowaswilling to purchase it for $2,250,000 and give it to the Stateof Florida,butthe stateatthattime was apparently not interested. During the Florida boom, the land values soared to seven or eight million dollars and the company president desperately wanted to sell the land because taxes became excessive. In 1930, a large number of royal palmswere takenfrom the Fakahatchee and planted at the Hialeah race track. logging operations finally began as a wartimemeasurein 1944,andcontinued until 1952. While the logging operation
inspected the Fakahatchee to determine its suitability for inclusion into the nation's system of national monuments. Although he gave a positive recommendation, the proposa'l did not
research that has so enhanced our knowledge of the Florida Panther has 1. Hydrology been conducted in and around the
receive adequate amounts at the important to the few remaining canal construction inthe vicinity of the measuresin the Preserveshould grant Fakahatchee has seriously impaired a high meaSl)reof consideration to the the hydroperiod. Theseproblems may welfare of this endangered species.
spent ten years trying to get the Fakahatchee Strand into public ownership. In 1963, Winifred Jones, a county commissionerfrom Copeland, received county funds to build a roadnow known as Jane's Scenic Drive -
the information obtained can be utilized
which .analyze the. potential .use .of conserving landscape design. vegetatIve lands~aplng for re~ldentlal Operational and maintenance practices energy conservatIon. Some studies have which are most appropriate should be indicated that .veg~tative. windbreaks can revealed. reduce heatmg requirements of a residencein the midwestby23to 34per
ENERGYMAINTENANCEINPUTS
home during somevery warm summer landscape:the trees,the shrubs,andthe days in Miami, Florida. lawn. Determining the precise values for
residential landscape should yield
various materials used, can at least reveal information regarding the energy inputs approximate values for typical and the important energy interactions requirements of vegetation commonly between a residence, its occupants, and continued next pa2e
Page 8, August, 1983,
from page 7
used in a Florida landscape.
In general, the plants in a residential landscapewill require extensive amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, irrigationwater,andgasolineforthe lawn mower. In this analysis, the amounts of these materials utilized are estimates based on the operational practices recommended in Florida Agricultural Extension Service Bulletins. The amount determined by estimating the amount required to supplement normal rainfall. corresponds to that recommended in preventive maintenance.
The annual dollar and energy costs of the materials used in the maintenance of
small dollar and energy costsof fertilizer. In most energy analyses of agricultural systems,the largest indirect energy input is fertilizer since it is quite energy intensive and is, in fact, a direct product of fossil fuels. However, the data for the residential landscape indicate that there is a larger input via irrigation and pesticide use.
It is a common assumption in energy conservation landscape design that the most energy intensive sector ot the landscape is the lawn. In fact, an often suggested approach for reducing the indirect energy inputs of a landscapeisto replacethelawnoratleastreduceit using other vegetation suchastreesand shrubs. In order to compare the energy intensities of the various types of vegetation, it is helpful to do energy analysesfor lawnsandtreessimilartothat described above for shrubs. In order to put the comparison on a common footing, the energy consumed should be calculated on a per square meter basis.
been included for the lawn.
Table 1 shows that, as is the case for the
through irrigation and pesticide spraying of a lawn than via fertilizing. It should be noted that, although the use of gasoline in mowingthelawnistheonlydirectfuel consumption, its total energy contribution is quite small compared to the other sources. The energy consumed throughwateringisthesamefor allthree types of vegetation since the recommended irrigation rates are
interesting observation with regard to Table 1 is that, on a per square meter basis,a lawn is lessenergy intensive than either a shrub or a five-year-old tree. Consequently, simply replacing lawns with trees and shrubs can actually increasethe indirect fossilfuel inputs into
before, the major reason for this lies in the high energy inputs associated with
the preventive pesticide sprayingof a selecting shrubs and trees which arefairly disease and drought resistant and which are appropriate to the specific climate and soil of the site, one can reduce these
example, a native Florida shrub such as wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) which is established (after a two- or three-year period), does not require preventive
Consequently, it could be maintained with annual indirect energy inputs of oncethey arewell established.
spray the vegetation to prevent the infestation of plant diseases or pests.Labortypically done by the homeowner (such as watering, fertilizing and pruning) is not included since it isan internal input with extremely great variability.
2. It it assumedthat the landscapewill include forty shrubs and ten trees.
vegetation is assumed in determining the annual costs associated with the initial purchase of the plants and lawn.
4. After a five- to seven-year establishment period, the trees are no longer fertilized, watered or sprayed.
5. The energy inputs associated with the commercial trimming and pruning of large trees for storm protection or because of interferencewith powerlines,etc., has not been included. Although these inputs may be substantial, there are too many uncertainties to allow for quantitativecomparisons.
associated with sophisticated and/or expensive maintenance tools such as riding mowers and power hedgers can be very large. However, due to the wide variability in their use and price, they have not been included. Only common maintenancetools have been included.
inputs estimated using these assumptions is shown in Table2. As in Table1, the energy inputs are calculated on a per square meter basis to facilitate
comprehensive list of energy inputs does not appreciably alter the relative energy intensities of lawns and typical trees and shrubs. Although a significant energy input ismadein the mowingofthelawn,
PALMmo, August, 1983,Page9
clearly indicate that a well-established tree which ishealthy and doesnot require extensive periodic pruning is the least energy intensive of the various types of vegetation.
Energy conservation landscapes typically include the use of trees, shrubs and a lawn. Obviously, a residential landscape consisting only of an extensive lawn would allow very large amounts of solar radiation to impact on the house. Also, previous studies have verified that the appropriate placement of trees and shrubs near a residence can substantially reduce the energy consumed in air conditioning in a warm, humid environment. However, the energy analysisof the previous section has indicated that the addition of trees and shrubs can potentially require significant additional energy maintenance inputs. This is an important consideration since these indirect energy inputs can offset a significant portion of the air conditioning energy savings associated with the
includes the complex web of interactions between the house, the residents, the local economy, and the landscape. The variety of indirect energy inputs which go into the maintenance of the vegetation is readily apparent. In order to investigate these interactions in greater detail and in order to determine methods of minimizing the energy maintenance inputs, this section will compare three alternate landscape designs for a residential site with a one-quarter acre landscape area:
1. a "lawn" landscape;
2. an "energy conservation" or ecological landscape (e.c.); and 3. an "urban forest" landscape.
Lawn Ecosystem
consists of a quarter-acre lawn surrounding a residence in a Florida suburb. Large energy inputs are
system is very analogous to an agricultural photosynthesis system which produces foodstuffs for animal or human consumption. However, it is noteworthy
cultivation product, in contrast to agricultural products, is not typically utilized in any manner. However, it does consume additional fossil fuels by becoming a solid waste output requiring I collection and disposalby the external system in exchange for money from the resident. Obviously, the attributes of a
product cuttings but rather in itsaesthetic and recreational value.
Another observation isthat a lawn may
contribute significant pollutants to the local environment, particularly local water resources, through runoff containing pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. In suburbs containing large numbers of residences with extensive lawns, the cumulative pollution from these "non-point" .sources can be quite large. In localeswhere groundwater is close to the surface and is the major source of municipal water supply (suchas in south Florida), this type of pollution maybe of particularconcern.Although similar pollution from agricultural sources is routinely monitored and controlled, that from residential landscapes is rarely noted and never regulated.
The Energy Conservation Landscape
The energy conservingor ecological conceptsand operational modeswhich minimize the consumption of resources
environment.listed belowarethe major characteristics of the e.c. landscape
1. All but one-sixteenthof anacreof the lawn is replaced by trees, shrubs and ground cover.
3. A number of treesand shrubsare positioned fairly close to the residence, primarily on the east, west and south sides, to provide significant shade for the windows and walls.
4. The plants usedaregenerally native specieswhich are fairly diseaseand drought resistant.
tOnly minimal amounts of fertilization are done before and during the dry season to minimize water requirements during that period.
. Deciduous species which are leaflessduring the dry seasonare used where appropriate, thereby requiring lesswatering during that period.
retention, particularly during the dry season.
6. Pesticide spraying is done only whenpestsor adiseaseareactually
7. No herbicidesareused.
of fertilizer are applied to the trees and shrubs for the first five yearsto establish the plants.
9. All grasscuttings, leavesand other plant trimmings are utilized for composting and mulching.
10. The pruning requirements of the trees and shrubs are minimized by proper spacing, positioning and species size selection.
11. Some of the trees utilized are low maintenance fruit trees for food production.
5. The following water conservation techniques are practiced: Irrigation is done lessoften and "deep" to encourage vertical root growth and, after afive-year established period, isdone only at early signs of wilting. . "Precision" sprinkling procedures such aswatering during cool,calmperiodsandslowdrip irrigation are employed to minimize runoff and evaporatinn Insses.
The total annualenergy maintenance requirements for the lawn and energy conservation landscapes have been calculatedfrom the energyinput values determined in the previous section but with modifications due to the conservation practices described. The data confirm that the careful gardening and conservation procedures utilized for the e.c. landscape have dramatically reduced the energy maintenance requirements for trees and shrubs. The e.c. landscape consumes only about onefourth the fossil fuel consumed by the lawn systemwhile providing significant reductions in the energy usedfor cooling the residence. Most of the savings are associated with reductions in irrigation and pesticide requirements through the useof water conservation techniques and by selecting drought and diseaseresistant trees and shrubs. Also, the recycling of trimmings significantly reduces the fertilizer, purchased mulch, and water requirements of the trees and shrubs.
data is the flexibility in its water requirements during an extended drought such asthe ones experienced in Florida in 1972 and 1981. Under severe drought conditions,only the smalllawn area would require irrigation to insure survival. Furthermore, the amount of continued next page
Page10,August,
ENERGY ANALYSIS - from page 9
irrigation per square meter of lawn required for survival would be significantly less in the e.c. landscape. Lessfrequent watering of the grass would be possible because of 1) the deeper root growth and 2)tree shading which reduces solar insolation on the grass and thus lowers soil evaporation rates, Also, the fact that the non-lawn sections of the landscape would typically require only minimal watering during the dry season reduces "peak" water demands. Consequently, the need to expand water supply systems in the future is reduced.
The Urban Forest Landscape
"urban forest" system. This system would differ from the e.c. landscape in the following ways:
1. the quarter-acre would be totally covered by a multiple-canopy forest of native trees with shadetolerant native shrubs and ground cover underneath;
pruning of diseased or decayed limbs would be done.
Clearly, the urban forest landscape would require only very minimal amounts of fossil fuel inputs and would provide very large reductions in the energy used in air conditioning. In addition to a reduction in labor for landscape maintenance, the major advantage of this system over the e.c. landscape would be the providing of appropriate habitat for small wildlife in a naturalistic setting. This is an important ecological benefit since many ecologists have predicted that the vast destruction of wildlife habitat will be one of the major environmental issues during the next twenty years. It shoulc;i be noted that some people might consider this characteristic a disadvantage due to the potential presence of "undesirable" snakes, rodents and insects.
CONCLUSIONS
2. after a three- to five-year establishment period, the trees, shrubs and ground cover would no longer be sprayed, fertilized or irrigated; and
3. only minimal maintenance involving the removal of exotic invader slJecies and the selective
The results of the analysesdescribed in this paper include the somewhat surprising conclusion that the addition of trees and shrubs to a residential landscape consisting of only a lawn may actually increase indirect energy inputs associated with landscape maintenance. However, an energy analysisof alternate landscape designs has revealed that the installation of an appropriate "energy conservation" landscape can reduce the indirect energy inputs for maintenance. After an initial establishment period, the energy inputs of fertilizers, pesticides, and water can bedramatically reduced by utilizing relatively simple water conservation techniques and byselecting native trees and shrubs which are appropriate to the site and are disease and drought resistant. Consequently an energy conserving landscape can not only reduce the electrical energy used in air conditioning a residence, but can also reduce the indirect energy inputs required in maintenance.
(Vaccinium arboreum), shrubs herbs are common in the understory. Sandhill succession eventually leads impressive forest of mixed species. trees. The understory is sparse, but diverse.
Xeric Hammocks are scattered throughout the Scrub and Sandhill Florida examples of the Advanced
Next issue: Coastal Dune, Coastal Strand, and Maritime Hammock.
by Joseph Cascio
McDougall defines plant ecology asthe science of the interrelations of plants and their environments, apart of general or bio-ecology, which deals with the interrelations of all living things and their environments.
of animal ecology because plant and animal ecologies are partsof the total interrelated. Oosting's' Plant Communities tells us that plants depend on animalsto provide carbon dioxide, transport seedsand natural fertilizers, and alter the soil structure and chemistry. Animals in turn depend on certain plants for the production of food, oxygen, and nitrates.
Vegetation can be defined as the plant communities that occupy the earth's surface, their structures and
or basicunitsof vegetation.Hewrote that the individuals of each species are not randomly scattered, but distributed in a pattern. Oosting wrote of these patterns as mutual relationships. These relationships included all the direct and indirect
Richard P. Wunderlin, Univ. of South Florida Press, Tampa, Florida, 1982. 472 pp. $25.00.
In a letter to the Editor (Palmetto,
that Small's Manual of the Southeastern Flora (1933) is out of print. Asageneralreferencebookfor Central Florida flora (excluding ferns and allies), Small's Manual has been our most comprehensive test for identification.
Besidesthis loss,many floristic and taxonomic changes have occurred over the last 50 years since Small landscape architect and an amateur botanist, identification of plants
tn thpwnnn~h~~nrnvpnniffirilit
effects that organisms have on each other; and the factors affecting the interrelationships include competition for water, light, and nitrates, stratification, and dependence. This community, which he defined as an aggregation of living organisms having mutual relationships among themselves and to their environment, variesfrom amatof lichensonarock to a fai rly homogeneous composition - except competition - is the
Daubenmireaddsthesynonym~of
operative factors of the habitat are: 1) the climatic, or atmospheric factors; 2) the edaphic, or soil, factors; 3) the orographic, or topographic, factors, and 4) the biotic factors (the effects of the living environment).
The difference between habitat and environment is in scope. Gosting explains that, within a particular environment, there is a range of conditions associated with those
often frustrating without apicture, or referencing several texts. Usually by
the specimen has wilted and dried beyond recognition.
The Guide to the VascularPlantsof Central Florida fills the void and bridges the gap for serious amateur botanists and students alike.
In the text, the complete flora (native and naturalized) of thirty
PALMmo, August, 1983, Page 11 operative factors which determine the habitat of each plant community.
In south Florida, vegetation is described in terms of physiographic regions by ecologists such asHarper, Davis, and Alexander. In the remaining natural areassouth of the Caloosahatchee River and the St. Lucie Canal, these regions are named: Big Cypressregions A, B,and
Ridge; Southern Coast and Islands; Western Flatland; EasternFlatland. called plant succession. Plant succession is an orderly sequence of changing plant communities that
particular site. Alexander explains in his 1973 study of the area that generally a plant community has its
conditions which are different from any other community. Also each community alters the habitat in a unique way asit ages,making it ready
Aswe drive 1-95,we seepineland in transition into hardwood. Along the coastal roads in south Florida, coastal
sand and organic matter.
and listed by plant families with genus and species listed alphabetically. Plant descriptions are omitted, and the brief botanical nomenclature used in simple descriptive keys are defined in the glossary. This comprehensive reference book
names. I find this very useful for those plants for which I recall only a
Additionally, a brief description of habitat, statement of general distribution in Central Florida, region of activity, whether exotic, seasonof sexual reproduction, and pertinent synonomy follows each species listing.
prove valuable to the advancement of native plant awareness and understanding species diversity
one-stop reference manual, light enough for useasafield guide, listing all the flowering and non-flowering plants of Central Florida, has finally
guess a guide for North Florida is next, Mr. Wunderlin?
Ba-
Petersburg in the spring of 1977, I
and exotic flora of Central Florida. It issodifferent from that of New York
1.Many books can be found in new
Books:
Varick St., N.Y., NY 10014
Plants, Laurel Hill Press, Chapel Hill, 1982
3. Breen, Ruth Schornherst, Mosses of Florida, University of Florida Press, Gainesville, FL,1963
4. Buswell, Walter M., Native Shrubs of South Florida, University of Miami Bulletin Vol. 20, No.3, 15 Feb. '46, Coral Gables, FL
5. Conrad, Henry S., Revised by Red-
Leonard E., Wildflowers of the Southeastern U.S., University of Georgia Press,Athens, 1975
7. Elias,Thomas S.,The Compete Trees of North America, Field Guide and Natural History, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., NY, 1980
Scurlock, who will give a special slide presentation on the plants of the Florida Keys.Other topics and workshop subjects will include maintenance, care, and pruning of native plants; plant identification and taxonomy; ethnobotany in Florida, and, by special request, a program will be given on native plants and butterflies.
ThepresentationofTheMarjory Stoneman Douglas Award will highlight the Saturday evening banquet.Mrs.Douglaswill present the award to an individual who has selflessly promoted the apprecia-
Hammer, the 1982 Award recipient, Willgive aspecial lecture at the banquet.
The Naples Chapter of on the third Monday of every month at The Conservancy Nature Center, at 7:30 local dues are $3.00 per person or $5.00 per family. Officers for 1983 are Dorie Karl, President (1209 Ridge Street, Naples, FL 33940; ph. 813/263-7236); Joe long, Vice President; Linda Weinland, Secretary; and Gary Patterson, Treasurer.
Native Plant Stationery isavailable
Wholesale prices are available to other chapters wishing to sell the cardsasafund raiser.Fivedifferent native plant designs in pen and ink are featured in each package, which includes ten cards and ten envelopes for $3.50 plus 75<1: postage. Wholesale price is $1.75 per package.
Registration is $25.00; $30.00 after September 20. The fee inc1udes all lectures, workshops, field trips, lunch Saturday, and information, call 305/247-4499.
T-SHIRTS
Another printing of T-shirts, with the four-color screening of the picture on the cover of the last Palmetto, will be ready by the end of August, and will beon saleatthe members' meeting in Tallahassee, for $7.00.Or order from FNPS,1203 Orange Ave.. Winter Park 32789.
Members interested in improving their taxonomy skills have formed a plant study group that is preparing a plant species list of Collier Seminole State Park for the Dept. of Natural Resources. The plant study group meets on the second Monday of every month at Edison Community College in Naples, from 7:30 to 9:30
In addition to field trips taken to Collier Seminole State Park, members try to venture into the field at least once a month, usually on the fourth Sunday. Trips have been taken to the Fakahatchee lakes, and Big Cypress Bend, a boardwalk through a tract of virgin cypress.
When not in the field, member Dave Addison has been busy preparing a manuscript on the identification and control of exotic pest plants. The Naples Chapter's Conservation Committee plans to publish Dave's article and distribute reprints through the Florida Division of Environmental Education which sponsored asimilar article in1977.It is hoped that the reprinted brochure, complete with color photographs, will appeal to the general public and will aid public officials charged with enforcing exotic pest plant ordinances.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
the direction of David Drylie, President (8100 Curry Ford Rd., Orlando 32822, ph. 282-1469), and EarlineHalpert,we havecreatedand adopted our chapter by-laws along with establishing five standing committees with specific goa1s and objectives.
monthly meetings with presentations from Sam Hopkins on the Ericacae family, and Steve Beeman, president of Ecoshores, on the native recontinuednextpage
Leavesof myrtle
vegetation and maintenance of the salt water littoral zone.
educational hike led by lake County forester, Terrill Davis,through part of
Juniper Springs Hunt Club. These very robust native hammocks were exploding with sparkleberries in full bloom, magnolias,majesticlOO-foot tall Atlantic White Cedars, and tasty
Coming soon: exploration of native coastal vegetation at lori WilsonStateParkin CocoaBeach.
In addition to our regular field trips
Central Florida Heritage Garden at HarryP.leu Gardens,wherewenow hold our monthly meetings, has asked usto create agarden areawith nativeplantmaterials.Wearenowin the process of analyzing the site and
be presenting a series of programs open to the public. This series will explore the design process using native plant material. Our goal is to have the garden complete by
will also have a booth at this event to educate people on the use and culture of natives. It has also been proposed that the Central Florida Chapter of the Native Plant Society act asa consultant on a large sewage treatment facility. The utility company plans to reforest the buffer acreage in native plant species.
and rolling! Even our membership hasincreased26%:we now boast56
first Tuesday of the month at "The Cottage" at leu Gardens on Forest Ave. in Orlando, at 7 P.M. PamelaJ.Wolf
FNPSof Fort Myers, Fl.
Tracy and a helper have propagated and planted from seed many native plants for use in the Cape Coral development. This beautiful nursery is a credit to the Native Plant Society.
Regular meetings have been established on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 P.M.Thosewho wish
813/995-5172, for information on location of meetings. Ruth Danforth
ThePalmBeachCountyChapterof FNPSmeets the third Monday of each month at 7:30 P.M. at Pine Jog Environmental Sciences Center, 6301 SummitBlvd.,WestPalmBeach.Our monthly meetings consist of a short announcement and business session,
relating to the program topic is usually scheduled for the following weekend.
Recent programs have been on the sand pine scrub, native ferns and mangrove revegetation, while our native areas within a 100-mile radius of West Palm Beach. Periodically, special projects such as planting natives on public property, relocating endangered natives threatened by development, manning educational exhibits, and fund raising plant sales are action on local environmental issues concerning native plants.
For more information on chapter activities and affairs, contact Steve Farnsworth, 7080 Hypoluxo Farms Rd., LakeWorth, FL33463,ph. 9652657.
SteveFarnsworth
SOUTH BREVARD
We're catching up in this report, so
the unfinished business of Lori
of AlA, on apieceof propertythatis
array of plants. The most notable were prickly apple(Cereusgraci/Ius), cocoplum, blolly, and pigeon plum. The agent who guided us over the acreage gave permission to harvest
Alsoin February,FloraPerkinsgavea
Club encouraging the use of natives in landscaping. Flora hasgiven quite a few of these talks using slides taken by Mary Ellen Smith. (Orlando area
The Sentinel by Mrs. Smith, illustrated with her excellent butterflies. She and Mrs. Perkins make a very effective team.)
included by the South Brevard Chamber of Commerce in their organizational list available to newcomers. They have also placed Palmetto on their rack of publimonthly identification workshop at Wealsoadvisedthe Cityof PalmBay (Palm Bay Pride Project) on a planting for a large park, providing a plan and soliciting donations of plants from and Hester Wagner made a presentation to the Brevard Museum.
property in Fellsmere. The owner
identified and auction off others to get badly needed working capital.
meeting in different locations: in
Nursery with our host. Tracv Rvan.
got the attention of the county commissioners. Once they realized that only one staff member wanted to build a road through the hammock and that he didn't have any good reason to do so, they simply scrapped the road.A realvictoryfor Margaret. Being a realist, sheexpects the villain of the piece to continue his efforts eventually, but as of this date, the hammock in Lori Wilson Parkisentire and (at least temporarily) secure.
trees and shrubs to raisemoney. Four of us had a delightful morning and of 83 species including a very confused. Even the books on exotics robusta, another Australian import. is a handsome tree and not ubiquitous.
Our regulartour in Marchwastoa were joined by members of the Central Florida Chapter. The
the notable sightings included ladies tresses orchids, Osceola's plume, and at least five different po/yga/as.
Wilson Park Road. Jim Gann, speaking for our Education Committee, reported that his printout of the plantswe've catalogued on tours is over 300 species. Bonnie
needed reference books to the chapter library. Other actions covered: send a letter to the Shade.Shewasabletostocknearly40
whoisanartistblockprintedaspecial labels; Allie's assistant set up a graceful special display adjacent to
Allie wants to try it again next year .. .maybe make it an annual affair. Our contact person is Margaret Hames, 305/724-1516, 667 Acacia Ave., Melbourne Village 32901.
. MarcyBartlett
the throes of organization, and hopes to be active by this fall. Contact Sydney Feinberg, 5339 S.R. 579, Seffner 33584, ph. 813/621-5605 or 754-2621.
NORTH FLORIDA
The post office took two months to deliver our first newsletter, so there is some confusion about what is happening. Another newsletter should go out in late July (Summer, '83) and, I hope, a third one in early September (Fall, '83). Among other things, the next newsletters will discuss the big organizational meeting tentatively set for you need additional information: SydneyT. Brinson, 939E.JeffersonSt., Tallahassee 32301, ph. 904/224-0693.
. Sydney Brinson
The big news for the Dade County Chapter is the upcoming Second Annual Conference on South Florida Native Plants, Oct. 1 and 2, Florida International Univ. and the Museum of Science in Miami. last year's conference was a great success and society and our chapter. This year's dynamic program will emphasize "hands-on" workshops and learning
see many of you there.
involved in the effort to have the included in the state's Conservation
very gratifying to see the site included in this year's final priority list (submitted to the Governor and Cabinet on July 7), where it ranked 20th out of 35.
Florida Keys continue to face severe development pressure. The status of
forum sponsored by the Florida continued next page
represented our chapter by leading a those unique, irreplaceable, tropical CARLlist. It wasanexcellentseason
hardwoods in bloom or fruit, along with the accompanying array of butterflies. Participants were also fortunate enough to see whitecrowned pigeons in their native habitat.
Receht speakers at our meetings
natives;IfASandthe roleofthe local station with respect to natives; and the mistletoe caE:tus:its characteris-
who have planted largely with natives offered a real learning opportunity. In August, our regular meeting becomes an organizational one for the Oct. conference.
FNPS
know the Central Florida Chapter will enthusiasm he brought to the Dade Chapter.
