FREE INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE 
VEGETATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA 
99 
barrens is sometimes scarce, and often wanting entirely, the herbaceous 
undergrowth is rich and varied, embracing nearly half of the flora of the state. 
In most pine barrens slight sinks, or basins, in the surface [see map], which are 
filled with water in wet seasons and are moist at all times, are of frequent 
occurrence, and these places have a large and characteristic flora. Where the 
shrubby undergrowth is scanty, or wanting, one can see for great distances 
between the straight trunks of the pines, and over the gently undulating sur- 
face a wagon may be driven for miles in any direction without need of following 
any beaten track.” 
The prevailing and dominant pine tree is the long-leaf pine, Pinus palustris 
Mill., which grows to a noble size, yields a useful timber and is tapped for 
turpentine. Pinus palustris Mill. differs from Pinus caribaea Morelet in a 
number of important characters tabulated below: 
PINUS PALUSTRIS MILL. PINUS CARIBÆA MORELET 
Maximum height 40 meters. Maximum height 35 meters, 
Bark of scaly plates Bark flat, irregular plates. 
Scales light, yellowish-brown. Scales reddish-brown. 
Leaves three in a sheath. Leaves 2 or 3 in a sheath. 
Leaves 20-40 cm. long. Leaves 18-30 cm. long. 
Cone scales with recurved spine. Cone scales armed with a small straight spine. 
Cones 16-25 cm. long. Cones 10-14 cm. long. 
Nash* sketches the vegetation of the high pineland of Lake County north 
of the region visited by me. His account may be used for comparison with 
what observations the writer has to present of a region further south. Nash 
states that the trees have perfectly straight trunks, rising to a height of 15-22 
m. (50 to 75 feet), the branches near the top. Associated with the pines are 
two oaks Quercus Catesbaei Michx. and Q. cinerea Michx., the former with 
Shining, green, deeply cut leaves, the latter with narrow, entire grayish-green 
foliage. Several leguminous herbs are prominent, viz., Chapmania floridana 
T. & G., Aeschynomene viscidula Michx., Morongia angustata (T. & G.) 
Britton, Dolicholus (Rhynchosia) cinereus (Nash) Vail., Crotalaria Purshii 
DC., Cracca ambigua (M. A. Curtis) Kuntze and C. chrysophylla (Pursh.) 
Kuntze. Among the more frequent compositous herbs are Berlandiera sub- 
acaulis Nutt., Pterocaulon undulatum (Walt.) Ell., Carduus spinosissimus 
Elliottii (T. & G.) Porter, Lygodesmia aphylla (Nutt.) DC., Vernonia an- 
* Vash, George V.: Notes on Some Florida Plants. Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club 22: 
142-143, Apr., 1895. 
