% 





I9I7J GANO— ECOLOGY OF FLORIDA 353 



pecuroides 



growth of Lycopodium 



other mosses. Osmunda cinnamomea L., 0. regalis L., Onoclea 

 sensibilis L., Woodwardia areolata Moore, and W. virginica Sm. are 

 typical bog hydromesophytes and abundant ferns of this habitat. 

 A complete analysis of the flora of these low woods probably would 

 include a longer list than for any other habitat in the county, and 

 would be evidence of the edaphic character of this association. 



Summarizing 



dominant 



most 



palust 



meso 



Mill, and P. caribaea Morelet, the latter ranges more widely 

 in habitat, occurring from mesophytic to hydrophytic habitats, 

 even enduring inundation. The former is not a typical swamp 

 tree nor does it succeed well in soil subject to inundation for any 

 length of time. On this account, probably, P. caribaea Morelet, 

 a dominant species for the southern Florida pinewoods, is reported 

 to be gradually replacing P. palustris farther north. On meso- 

 phytic soils these pines are displaced by the more 

 species, while on the drier soils or excessively drained sands the 

 scrub oaks succeed better and take possession. P. palustris belongs 

 typically, therefore, to sandy soils with subsoil well drained to 

 saturated or forming hardpan, soils in which few other trees would 

 flourish. Since such habitats predominate, owing to the present 

 physiographic conditions on the coastal plain, the present long- 

 leaved pine forest may be looked upon as edaphic, the species of 

 pines, within their respective climatic ranges, being pioneers in 

 these comparatively primitive habitats. 



PRE-EROSION DEPRESSIONS 



Throughout the coastal plain, depressions not resulting from 

 recent erosive processes present a variety of edaphic studies. 

 Many of these low places are filled for all or part of the time with 

 surface water, or they may be sufficiently depressed below the 

 water table to contain a permanent amount of water. Others may 

 be mere swampy or boggy tracts, or during dry seasons prairie-like. 

 The relation of these surface features to the formation of peat, 



