Trees Found In Tropical Hardwood Hammocks

In the northern portion of the everglades hammocks are dominated by trees of temperate origin including the live oak quercus virginiana and the hackberry celtis laevigata.

Trees found in tropical hardwood hammocks. Common tropical plant species found within the hammocks of ten thousand islands national wildlife refuge include gumbo limbo strangler fig and ironwoods. Other tropical species may include mahogany mastic and royal palm. Live oak and cabbage palm are also sometimes found within this community. Hardwoods are broad leaved trees that grow well in the everglades.

Tropical hardwood hammocks are closed canopy forests dominated by a diverse assemblage of evergreen and semi deciduous tree and shrub species mostly of west indian origin. Temperate species such as live oak red maple virginia creeper and hackberry may also be found within this habitat. Tropical hardwood hammocks occur in south florida and along the florida coastlines where danger from frost is rare and tropical trees and shrubs common to the caribbean islands west indian origin are able to survive. Hammocks can be found nestled in most all other everglades ecosystems.

Typical canopy species of tropical hardwood hammocks include gumbo limbo bursera simaruba paradise tree simarouba glauca pigeon plum coccoloba diversifolia strangler fig ficus aurea wild mastic sideroxylon foetidissimum and willow bustic sideroxylon salicifolium. Extremely rare plants like lignum vitae mahogany thatch palms and manchineel may also be found in these hammocks in the florida keys. In the deeper sloughs and marshes the seasonal flow of water helps give these hammocks a distinct aerial teardrop shape. Tropical hardwood hammocks are found along both coasts of south florida as well as throughout the everglades and florida keys.

The tropical hardwood hammock is an ecosystem consisting of broad leafed trees shrubs and vines nearly all of which are native to the west indies with live oak quercus virginiana being the only significant temperate species. Characteristic tropical plants include strangler fig gumbo limbo ironwoods and poisonwood. A hardwood hammock is a dense stand of broad leafed trees that grow on a natural rise of only a few inches in elevation. Other trees commonly found in mesic hammocks include southern magnolia pignut hickory water oak and laurel oak.

Mahogany hammock trail an accessible tropical hardwood hammock in everglades national park.