Strange Land
The Pine Rocklands of the Florida Keys is an unusual ecosystem, with a rock layer not far beneath the surface. In the United States, the last 2% of the original forest is found only in the National Key Deer Refuge, primarily on Big Pine Key. They are also found on some isolated locations in the Caribbean.
Slash Pine trees (Pinus ellottii), with sturdy taproots, can remain standing long after the death of a tree. So there is an eerie mix of live and dead trees in the pine rocklands. When they finally fall, decomposition is rapid, with little soil buildup. There are "holes" with ponds of fresh water that support a variety of plants and small animals. In the picture, Saw Palmetto is the primary plant in the understory, but about 250 species of plants are found in the Pine Rocklands.
Strange Land
The Pine Rocklands of the Florida Keys is an unusual ecosystem, with a rock layer not far beneath the surface. In the United States, the last 2% of the original forest is found only in the National Key Deer Refuge, primarily on Big Pine Key. They are also found on some isolated locations in the Caribbean.
Slash Pine trees (Pinus ellottii), with sturdy taproots, can remain standing long after the death of a tree. So there is an eerie mix of live and dead trees in the pine rocklands. When they finally fall, decomposition is rapid, with little soil buildup. There are "holes" with ponds of fresh water that support a variety of plants and small animals. In the picture, Saw Palmetto is the primary plant in the understory, but about 250 species of plants are found in the Pine Rocklands.