Plants and animals whose natural occurrence is restricted to one area are said to be endemic to that area, and such species are called endemics. There are no fewer than 40 species of plants that are endemic to Florida scrub. Of these, about 20 are endemic to scrubs on the Lake Wales Ridge only. Most of these are considered Endangered or Threatened by the US Department of Interior and the State of Florida because their distributions are so small that they are vulnerable to extinction. Some are known from only 2 or 3 localities and may go extinct within a few years. One species, a thorny shrub in the jujube genus Ziziphus, was thought to be extinct but was recently rediscovered near Avon Park after 40 years. The beautiful flower pictured here belongs to the Endangered long-spurred balm (Dicerandracornutissima) which is endemic to a handful of scrubs in the vicinity of I-75 and the Marion-Sumter County line in north central Florida.
Plants and animals whose natural occurrence is restricted to one area are said to be endemic to that area, and such species are called endemics. There are no fewer than 40 species of plants that are endemic to Florida scrub. Of these, about 20 are endemic to scrubs on the Lake Wales Ridge only. Most of these are considered Endangered or Threatened by the US Department of Interior and the State of Florida because their distributions are so small that they are vulnerable to extinction. Some are known from only 2 or 3 localities and may go extinct within a few years. One species, a thorny shrub in the jujube genus Ziziphus, was thought to be extinct but was recently rediscovered near Avon Park after 40 years. The beautiful flower pictured here belongs to the Endangered long-spurred balm (Dicerandra cornutissima) which is endemic to a handful of scrubs in the vicinity of I-75 and the Marion-Sumter County line in north central Florida. 
