Alternative Text Description for Highlands Scrub Hypericum (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the geographic distribution of Highlands Scrub Hypericum, an endangered plant species, within the state of Florida and portions of neighboring southeastern states. The map displays a single designated habitat area for this threatened species in central Florida. This thematic layer is extracted from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service species boundary dataset and focuses specifically on the critical habitat zone for this endangered plant.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern United States, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and portions of North Carolina and Alabama. Major cities labeled on the map include Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Savannah, Valdosta, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Palm Bay, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Coral Springs, Freeport, and Abaco. The map extends from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to portions of Georgia and Alabama on the west, and from the Carolinas in the north to the southern tip of Florida. The Gulf of America forms the western boundary of the Florida peninsula.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Highlands Scrub Hypericum has an extremely limited geographic range, with only one designated habitat area visible on this map. This area is located in central Florida, in the region between Tampa-St. Petersburg to the west and Orlando to the east, with Lakeland at its approximate center. The restricted distribution pattern indicates that this endangered species occupies a highly specific habitat type with very limited extent. The species is notably absent from all other areas of Florida and the broader southeastern United States shown on the map, emphasizing its vulnerability and the critical importance of protecting this single known habitat zone.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Highlands Scrub Hypericum Habitat

This layer represents the designated critical habitat boundary for the endangered Highlands Scrub Hypericum plant species.

Highlands Scrub Hypericum (Endangered) Habitat Zone (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

The habitat area is depicted with a pink or light red crosshatch pattern consisting of diagonal lines creating a mesh-like appearance.

Distribution:

The habitat zone appears exclusively in central Florida, positioned in the region south and east of Tampa and southwest of Orlando.

Notable locations:

The habitat area is centered near Lakeland, Florida, positioned between the Tampa Bay metropolitan area to the west and the Orlando metropolitan area to the northeast. It lies in the interior highlands region of central Florida.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat zone forms an irregular, roughly north-south oriented polygon covering what appears to be a relatively compact geographic area. The boundary shape suggests the habitat follows natural topographic or ecological features rather than administrative boundaries. The isolated nature of this single habitat patch, with no other occurrences visible across the entire mapped region, demonstrates the extremely limited range of this endangered species.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents critical habitat information for conservation and environmental management purposes. The Highlands Scrub Hypericum is listed as endangered, indicating it faces a high risk of extinction. The extremely limited geographic range shown on this map underscores the species' vulnerability and the importance of habitat protection within the designated area. This visualization focuses exclusively on the thematic layer showing species distribution; base map features such as roads, political boundaries, and other infrastructure are not emphasized but are included for geographic reference. The habitat boundaries represent official designations by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and are used for regulatory and conservation planning purposes.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) species boundary dataset for the State of Florida. This dataset contains polygonal boundaries for species as understood and designated by USFWS for conservation and regulatory purposes. The source layer is CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

The map displays a filtered subset of the complete USFWS species dataset. The filter criterion applied is COMNAME = 'HIGHLANDS SCRUB HYPERICUM', which extracts only the habitat boundaries for this specific endangered plant species from the larger multi-species dataset.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale covering multiple states in the southeastern United States. This scale is appropriate for showing the full extent of the species' range and providing geographic context relative to major cities and coastal features. The level of detail is suitable for understanding broad distribution patterns rather than site-specific habitat characteristics.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087). This is a projected coordinate system using an Albers Equal Area Conic projection optimized for the state of Florida, which minimizes area distortion and is appropriate for displaying statewide species distribution data.

Time Period of Content:

The dataset reference indicates data from July 2025 (JUL25). The temporal currency of species boundary designations should be verified with the source agency for the most current habitat information.

Limitations:

This map shows designated habitat boundaries as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and may not represent all areas where individual plants occur. Habitat boundaries are subject to revision based on new scientific information, surveys, or regulatory actions. The map does not indicate habitat quality, population density, or the condition of the species within the designated area. Areas outside the mapped boundary may contain suitable habitat or occasional occurrences not yet documented or designated.

Map Coverage:

The map extent includes the entire state of Florida and portions of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama. The primary focus is on Florida, where the species occurs, but neighboring states are shown to provide regional geographic context. Coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of America are visible at the edges of the map extent.

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