Tropical Hammocks
Hardwood forests with broad-leaved evergreens are called hammocks. The tropical hammock ecosystem is restricted to South Florida, below the frost line, and contains plants and animals that live in no other place in the United States. The soils are well-drained, and therefore many forests have been converted into housing developments and towns. Visit the tropical hammocks at Everglades National Park, Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and Collier-Seminole State Park.
For the contest...
Each year the contest takes on two ecosystems on a four-year rotation. At this station, when Tropical Hammocks is one of the featured ecosystems, contestants will:
- ID 4 tree or shrub species that are commonly found in each ecosystem. The four tree and shrub species contestants should know from Tropical Hammocks are:
gumbo-limbo
pigeon plum
mastic
strangler fig - Answer multiple-choice questions about each ecosystem. To prepare, Juniors should read the Forest Story about adventures in each of their designated ecosystems. Intermediates should read the informative text about their designated ecosystems.
Learn More
- UF/IFAS EDIS Fact Sheet: Tropical Hardwood Hammocks in Florida (also available as a PDF)