Pine flatwoods are the most widespread ecosystem in Florida — open stands of longleaf or slash pine over a carpet of saw palmetto, wiregrass, and wildflowers. They are shaped, and kept healthy, by fire.
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How it works
Frequent, low-intensity fire clears the understory, recycles nutrients, and lets fire-adapted species thrive. Many of Florida’s signature animals — from gopher tortoises to red-cockaded woodpeckers — depend on this open, sunlit habitat.
Key species
Longleaf pineSaw palmettoWiregrassGopher tortoisePine warbler