Native Plant Communities

Baygall

Synonyms: Forested Seep Slope
Baygalls are wetlands twith peat substrates on slopes or at the base of a slope where they are maintained by downslope seepage, typically from a sandy hill. They are usually saturated and at some are occasionally inundated. Fire is rare or absent. Soils are typically very acidic leading to nutrient limitation for most deciduous species and favoring evergreen trees and ericaceous shrubs. Characteristic vegetation includes bays (Magnolia virginiana and Gordonia lasianthus) and/or dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) and/or red maple (Acer rubrum) and/or mixed hardwoods.

References:

Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 1992. Soil and Water Relationships of Florida's Ecological Communities http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/delineation/docs/soil-and-water.pdf

Duever, Linda. 1984 (February). Florida's Natural Communities: Seepage Communities. The Palmetto 4, #1:1-2, 10-11. http://fnps.org/assets/pdf/palmetto/v04i1p1duever.pdf

Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). 2010. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. http://fnai.org/naturalcommguide.cfm

Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) and Florida Department of Natural Resources. 1990. Guide to the natural communities of Florida: 2010 edition. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL. http://fnai.org/PDF/Natural_Communities_Guide_1990.pdf

Knight, G. R., J. B. Oetting, and L. Cross.  2011.  Atlas of Florida's Natural Heritage - Biodiversity, Landscapes, Stewardship and Opportunities:  Institute of Science and Public Affairs, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.

Myers, R.L. and J.J. Ewel (eds.). 1990. Ecosystems of Florida University of Central Florida Press: Orlando.

USDA Soil Conservation Service. 198_. 26 Ecological Communities of Florida. http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00000110/00001

Whitney, E.N., D. B. Means, A. Rudloe. 2004. Priceless Florida: Natural Ecosystems and Native Species. Pineapple Press.

Date Updated 2020-05-18 11:47:50

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Baygall in Osceola County.  Photo by Shirley Denton

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Loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus) is a characteristic species of baygalls