The only real tree
in Florida scrub, sand pine is uniquely adapted to live
in a plant community that depends on periodic fire for
its continued existence. The cones of sand pine remain on
the tree and do not open until the tree actually burns to
death. Only the heat of a killing fire can melt the wax
that seals the cones, thus allowing the release of seeds
to start a new generation. This way, seeds are not wasted
as they would be if they fell in the shade of the parent
tree. And, the species is able to repopulate the site
quickly after a devastating fire. (In recent decades
modern man has reduced the frequency of and even
eliminated fire in many Florida scrubs. This has allowed
the occasional sand pine "sport" that already
happened to have cones that open without fire to
reproduce successfully. In effect, man has selected for
sand pines that release their seeds without fire, and
today you can see trees with open cones in many scrubs.)
Sometimes, if conditions are just right, sand pine
seedlings survive in tremendous numbers and the species
comes to dominate the site, creating a sand pine forest
and shading out the scrub perennials and shrubs. But if
it doesn't rain when the tiny sand pine seedlings are
getting started, most will die and the survivors will be
scattered in a true scrub with other scrub plants.
The only real tree
in Florida scrub, sand pine is uniquely adapted to live
in a plant community that depends on periodic fire for
its continued existence. The cones of sand pine remain on
the tree and do not open until the tree actually burns to
death. Only the heat of a killing fire can melt the wax
that seals the cones, thus allowing the release of seeds
to start a new generation. This way, seeds are not wasted
as they would be if they fell in the shade of the parent
tree. And, the species is able to repopulate the site
quickly after a devastating fire. (In recent decades
modern man has reduced the frequency of and even
eliminated fire in many Florida scrubs. This has allowed
the occasional sand pine "sport" that already
happened to have cones that open without fire to
reproduce successfully. In effect, man has selected for
sand pines that release their seeds without fire, and
today you can see trees with open cones in many scrubs.)
Sometimes, if conditions are just right, sand pine
seedlings survive in tremendous numbers and the species
comes to dominate the site, creating a sand pine forest
and shading out the scrub perennials and shrubs. But if
it doesn't rain when the tiny sand pine seedlings are
getting started, most will die and the survivors will be
scattered in a true scrub with other scrub plants. 
