Alternative Text Description for Pygmy Fringe-Tree (Endangered) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map shows the geographic distribution of the Pygmy Fringe-Tree, an endangered plant species, in central Florida. The map displays the known range boundaries where this species occurs, as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The distribution is concentrated in a specific region of the Florida peninsula, depicted as a continuous polygon area with a distinctive crosshatch pattern.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the southeastern United States, extending from Georgia and South Carolina in the north to southern Florida, and from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Gulf of America in the west. The Pygmy Fringe-Tree distribution is located exclusively in central Florida, centered around the Orlando metropolitan area. Major cities shown on the map include Jacksonville and Wilmington in the north, Charleston along the Atlantic coast, Savannah, Columbia, Greenville, Augusta, Athens, Atlanta, Macon, Warner Robins, Albany, Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Valdosta in Georgia and northern Florida. In the area of the species distribution, notable cities include Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Palm Bay, Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, Coral Springs, Freeport, and Abaco. The distribution area is situated inland from both the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of America coast.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Pygmy Fringe-Tree has a highly restricted geographic range, occurring only in a relatively compact area of central Florida. The distribution forms a roughly contiguous polygon covering parts of the central peninsula, primarily encompassing the area around and between Orlando, Tampa, and Lakeland. This limited range is notable for an endangered species and emphasizes the conservation importance of this specific region. The distribution does not extend to coastal areas, suggesting the species has specific inland habitat requirements. The concentration in central Florida, rather than a widespread distribution across the state or region, indicates this is a regionally endemic species with limited dispersal capability or highly specialized ecological needs.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Pygmy Fringe-Tree (Endangered) Distribution

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries of the known habitat range for the Pygmy Fringe-Tree as documented by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Pygmy Fringe-Tree Range Polygon

Appearance:

The distribution area is shown as a light pink polygon with a dense crosshatch or diagonal grid pattern overlay. The crosshatch consists of thin white lines creating a consistent mesh pattern across the entire distribution area.

Distribution:

The species range is located in central Florida, forming an irregular but generally cohesive polygon. The distribution extends from the Orlando area in the north-central portion, westward to encompass the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Lakeland metropolitan corridor, and southward to approximately the latitude of Cape Coral.

Notable locations:

The distribution polygon encompasses or is adjacent to several major population centers including Orlando (which appears to be centrally located within or near the distribution), Tampa and St. Petersburg on the western edge, and Lakeland within the polygon. The range extends into areas between these cities, suggesting the species occupies suitable habitat across this central Florida corridor.

Spatial patterns:

The distribution forms a relatively compact, east-west oriented polygon with irregular edges. The polygon appears as a single contiguous area with one notable feature: there is a small rectangular void or gap within the distribution near the center-southern portion, between Orlando and the Tampa Bay area. This may represent an area where the species is absent, data is lacking, or habitat is unsuitable. The overall pattern suggests habitat continuity across this region of central Florida, with the species range bounded by unsuitable conditions or geographic barriers to the north, south, east, and west.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping thematic patterns are present on this map, as it displays a single species distribution layer over a base map context.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map focuses on a single endangered species distribution and represents the official boundaries recognized by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The map is intended to communicate the geographic extent of where this species is known to occur, which is critical information for conservation planning, land management decisions, and regulatory compliance under the Endangered Species Act. The small gap visible within the distribution polygon may represent areas requiring further survey, unsuitable microhabitat within the broader range, or areas where the species has been confirmed absent. Users should note that this map shows the species range at a state or regional scale and does not indicate specific site-level occurrences or population density information.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents the official polygonal boundaries for species distributions within the State of Florida. The data layer is identified as CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

This map displays a filtered subset of the source data, showing only records where the common name equals 'PYGMY FRINGE-TREE'. This query isolates the distribution of this single endangered species from a larger dataset containing multiple species boundaries.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale covering the southeastern United States, appropriate for showing the full extent of the species range within the broader geographic context. At this scale, fine-scale habitat details and individual occurrence points are not visible, but the overall distribution boundary is clearly represented.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data layer designation includes "JUL25" suggesting the data was compiled or updated in July 2025. The specific time period during which the species observations were collected is not specified.

Limitations:

This map represents known distribution boundaries as understood by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and may not reflect all areas where the species actually occurs. The data represents compiled knowledge at a specific point in time and may not include recent discoveries or account for habitat changes. The polygon boundaries are generalizations that encompass the species range but do not indicate specific locations of individual plants or population density. Areas within the polygon may contain unsuitable habitat, and conversely, undocumented populations may exist outside the mapped boundaries.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the southeastern United States from approximately northern Georgia to southern Florida and from the Gulf of America to the Atlantic Ocean. This broad coverage provides geographic context for the species distribution, which is located exclusively in central Florida. Cities and state boundaries throughout the region are shown for spatial reference, though the species occurs only within the demarcated polygon in the central Florida peninsula.

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