Alternative Text Description for Lewton's Polygala (Endangered) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the distribution of Lewton's Polygala, an endangered plant species, in the State of Florida. The map displays polygonal boundaries representing the geographic range where this species is understood to occur according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map focuses on central Florida, showing specific regions where this endangered species has been documented.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers a portion of the southeastern United States, focusing primarily on the Florida peninsula and extending north to include portions of Georgia and South Carolina. Major cities visible on the map include Jacksonville and Orlando in Florida, Charleston in South Carolina, Savannah in Georgia, and Tampa and St. Petersburg in western Florida. The Atlantic Ocean is visible along the eastern edge of the map, and the Gulf of America coastline is visible along the western edge. Other labeled cities include Greenville, Columbia, Athens, Augusta, Wilmington, Albany, Valdosta, Gainesville, Palm Coast, Lakeland, Palm Bay, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Freeport, and Abaco.

KEY INSIGHTS

Lewton's Polygala has a highly restricted geographic range concentrated in central Florida. The species distribution forms a central cluster in the Orlando region with extensions both north toward Gainesville and south toward Lakeland. The distribution pattern shows several distinct polygonal areas rather than a continuous range, suggesting fragmented habitat or isolated populations. The species is notably absent from northern Florida, the panhandle region, and southern Florida, indicating specific habitat requirements. All documented occurrences fall within the interior portions of the Florida peninsula, with no presence along coastal areas.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Lewton's Polygala Distribution

This layer represents the geographic boundaries where Lewton's Polygala, an endangered plant species, occurs in Florida.

Lewton's Polygala Range Areas (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

The species range is depicted using a pink or light red crosshatch pattern with diagonal lines, creating a semi-transparent fill that allows underlying geographic features to remain visible.

Distribution:

The distribution is concentrated in central Florida, forming several distinct polygonal areas. The primary concentration is in the Orlando metropolitan area, with additional areas extending northwest toward Gainesville and southwest toward the Lakeland region.

Notable locations:

The largest contiguous area appears to be centered around Orlando, with significant presence in areas between Gainesville and Orlando. Additional polygons appear near Palm Bay on the east coast and in the region between Tampa and Orlando. A northernmost polygon is visible in the Gainesville area.

Spatial patterns:

The distribution shows a fragmented pattern with multiple separated polygons rather than a single continuous range. The areas are clustered within central Florida's interior, suggesting habitat specificity. The distribution follows a roughly north-south orientation through the central peninsula, avoiding both coastal regions and the northern portions of the state.

Overlapping Patterns

The Lewton's Polygala range areas do not overlap with each other but are distributed as distinct, separate polygons across the central Florida region, indicating discrete habitat patches or population areas.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents the species distribution as understood by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and reflects the officially recognized range for conservation and management purposes. The polygonal boundaries indicate general areas of occurrence rather than precise population locations. As an endangered species, Lewton's Polygala is protected under federal law, and its restricted range in central Florida highlights its conservation significance. The fragmented nature of the distribution suggests that habitat preservation efforts may need to focus on multiple discrete areas rather than a single contiguous region.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data comes from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents species boundaries for the State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries for species as understood by USFWS for conservation and management purposes.

Data source layer name: CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25

Definition Query:

This map displays a filtered subset of the data where the common name equals 'Lewton's Polygala', showing only this specific endangered species from the larger USFWS species dataset.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale showing the entire Florida peninsula and portions of neighboring states, appropriate for understanding the overall geographic distribution pattern of this species.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The dataset is dated July 2025 (CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25), representing the most current understanding of the species distribution as of that date.

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent general areas where the species is known or believed to occur and may not indicate precise population locations or actual occupancy of all land within the boundaries. The data reflects the understanding of species distribution at a specific point in time and may not capture recent changes in population status or newly discovered occurrences. The dataset may not include detailed information about population density, habitat quality, or specific site-level occurrence data within the broader polygonal boundaries.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from northern Georgia and South Carolina in the north to the southern tip of Florida, and from the Gulf of America coast in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, providing regional context for the central Florida distribution of Lewton's Polygala.

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