Current Literature 55 



Geography and Vegetation of Northern Florida. By R. M. 

 Harper. From Sixth Annual Report of Florida State Geological 

 Survey. 1914. Pp. 165-451. 



The report covers the northern tier of counties of the State of 

 Florida, an area of some 22,600 square miles, of which 89 per 

 cent, is forested. For purposes of description, the area is sub- 

 divided into twenty geographical regions. The geology and soils ; 

 topography and hydrography ; the vegetation types of each region 

 are briefly described. This description is followed by plant lists 

 which are subdivided into five parts as follows : Trees large 

 enough to make lumber; small trees and large shrubs; woody 

 vines; ordinary shrubs, and the herbs. 



The east Florida flatlands is the largest region, covering 23 

 per cent, of the area examined. The surface soil is mostly grayish 

 sand ; then comes several feet of sandy clay resting on calciferous 

 marly strata. The region is 90 per cent, forested, the chief trees 

 being Longleaf pine and Slash pine (P. elliottii), the two species 

 comprising 45 per cent, and 20 per cent, respectively of the rather 

 open stands. The Slash pine is more abundant here than in other 

 places in Florida. The other trees in order of abundance are : 

 Pond cypress (T. imbricarium) , Black cherry (P. serotina), Black 

 gum. Sweet gum. Black-jack oak (Q. Catesbaei), bay, Loblolly 

 pine and Red maple. 



The west Florida pine hills is the next largest region, and it 

 occupies 17 per cent, of the total area. The region includes the 

 highest land in Florida, running up to 300 feet. The surface soil 

 is sandy, and it passes into reddish sandy clay at a depth of a few 

 inches or feet. The prevailing type of vegetation is an open 

 forest of Longleaf pine. On the driest uplands, or where the sand 

 is deepest, there is considerable admixture of small Black-jack 

 oak, and this species stands second in abundance. The wet slopes 

 of the broader branch-valleys have a characteristic bog or wet 

 barren flora more richly developed than elsewhere in Florida. 

 The forests cover 90 per cent, of the area ; some of these are 

 virgin and have not even been turpentined. The region does not 

 contain enough people to cut down the pine as fast as it grows. 



The Apalachicola flatwoods occupy 11 per cent, of the total 

 area, and they are nearly three-fourths coniferous, with Longleaf 



