Alternative Text Description for Gentian Pinkroot (Endangered) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the known distribution of Gentian Pinkroot, an endangered plant species, across the southeastern United States. The map shows the geographic boundaries where this species occurs according to United States Fish and Wildlife Service records for Florida and neighboring states. The distribution is represented as shaded polygonal areas overlaid on a reference map showing major cities and state boundaries.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern coastal United States, primarily focusing on Florida and portions of Georgia and South Carolina. Major cities labeled include Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, West Palm Beach, Charleston, Savannah, Columbia, Greenville, Augusta, and Wilmington. The map extends from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to areas west of Tallahassee, and from southern South Carolina in the north to the southern tip of Florida including the Florida Keys. The Atlantic coastline and Florida peninsula are prominently featured in the geographic extent.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Gentian Pinkroot distribution shows a highly fragmented and limited geographic range, consistent with its endangered status. The species occurs in scattered, isolated locations rather than forming continuous habitat areas. The distribution appears concentrated in three general regions: scattered locations in northern Florida, isolated areas along the central Atlantic coast of Florida, and a small presence in south-central Florida near Lake Okeechobee. The extremely limited and discontinuous distribution pattern illustrates the rarity and vulnerability of this endangered species across the southeastern landscape.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Gentian Pinkroot Distribution

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries of known Gentian Pinkroot occurrence areas as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Gentian Pinkroot (Endangered) Areas (pink/rose shaded polygons with crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

Light pink or rose-colored polygons with a diagonal crosshatch pattern overlay.

Distribution:

Scattered across northern Florida, with additional isolated occurrences along Florida's central east coast and in south-central Florida.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

The distribution is highly fragmented with no continuous habitat corridors visible. Occurrences appear as isolated patches separated by large areas where the species is not present. The largest concentration of occurrence areas appears to be in northern Florida, though even there the pattern remains discontinuous. No occurrences are visible in South Carolina or Georgia portions of the map despite their inclusion in the map extent.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are present as this map displays a single thematic layer showing endangered species distribution.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents the official species range boundaries as understood by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service specifically for Florida. The absence of shaded areas does not necessarily indicate the species has never occurred in those locations, but rather indicates areas outside the currently recognized distribution boundaries in USFWS records. The polygonal boundaries represent geographic areas where the species is known to occur rather than point locations of individual observations. Users should understand that endangered species distributions are often incomplete due to limited survey effort and the rarity of the species itself.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This dataset contains polygonal boundaries for species distributions as documented and maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the State of Florida. The data represents official species range information used for conservation planning and regulatory purposes. Data source layer name: CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

The map displays only records where the common name equals 'GENTIAN PINKROOT', filtering the full species database to show distribution for this single endangered species.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale appropriate for showing the full extent of the species distribution across multiple states. This scale is suitable for understanding broad distribution patterns but does not show fine-scale habitat details within occurrence areas.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data layer name indicates a July 2025 version (JUL25), suggesting this represents species distribution information current as of July 2025.

Limitations:

This dataset is specific to Florida records from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and may not represent the complete range of the species if it occurs outside Florida. The polygonal boundaries represent general occurrence areas and do not indicate that the species is present at every location within a shaded polygon. Actual habitat within these boundaries may be discontinuous or limited to specific microhabitats. As an endangered species, survey data may be incomplete, and additional occurrences may exist but remain undocumented.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the southeastern United States from southern South Carolina south through Florida and west to include portions of Georgia and the Florida Panhandle, with the Atlantic Ocean forming the eastern boundary. The coverage area extends beyond the species' documented range to provide geographic context.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.