ABSTRACT
Tropical dry forests in south Florida occur as fragments in the Florida Keys, Miami-Dade county and the Florida Everglades. Native woody plants were examined in 23 plots (500 m2) in mature stands of tropical dry forest and 48 reserves in south Florida. In total, 64 native woody species were recorded whose primary habitat is dry forest. Tropical dry forests in south Florida contain low diversity and endemism, but the floristic composition and forest structure are similar to those of dry forests in the Bahamas and coastal Cuba. Dry forests in south Florida and the Caribbean have significantly different natural history characteristics (flower size, dispersal types and canopy phenology) compared with most neotropical dry forests on the mainland. There are 23 species listed as endangered and nine species listed as threatened. However, the conservation status of remaining fragments in south Florida can be viewed as excellent based on the number of reserves and reserve management.
