Alternative Text Description for Scrub Buckwheat (Threatened)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the known locations of Scrub Buckwheat, a threatened species, across central Florida. The map shows polygonal boundaries representing habitat areas or documented populations of this species as identified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The distribution reveals scattered occurrences primarily concentrated in the central portion of the state, with varying sizes of documented habitat areas.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers central Florida, extending from Tampa and Sarasota in the southwest to Daytona Beach and Port Orange along the Atlantic coast in the northeast. Major cities labeled on the map include Orlando in the center, Tampa in the southwest, and smaller communities such as Leesburg, Eustis, Kissimmee, Lakeland, and Ocala. The map encompasses portions of the Florida peninsula, showing the region between the Gulf of America coast and the Atlantic coast. Additional labeled communities include Dunnellon, Citrus Springs, Beverly Hills, Homosassa Springs, Spring Hill, Deltona, Titusville, and Yeehaw Junction.

KEY INSIGHTS

Scrub Buckwheat occurrences are concentrated in two primary regions. The largest concentration appears in the area northeast of Orlando near Eustis, where one particularly extensive habitat polygon is visible. A secondary concentration extends in a roughly north-south corridor between Orlando and Kissimmee, with multiple scattered locations continuing southward toward Yeehaw Junction. Northern occurrences are clustered in the Ocala area. The species shows a notable absence from the Tampa metropolitan area and coastal regions, suggesting a preference for interior upland habitats. The fragmented distribution pattern indicates isolated populations scattered across the central Florida landscape rather than continuous habitat.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Scrub Buckwheat (Threatened)

This layer represents the documented habitat boundaries and occurrence areas for Scrub Buckwheat, a threatened plant species.

Scrub Buckwheat Habitat Polygons (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

Polygons are displayed with a pink or magenta crosshatch pattern against the base map. The polygons vary significantly in size, from small circular patches to larger irregular shapes covering more extensive areas.

Distribution:

Features are distributed across central Florida, primarily in the interior portions of the peninsula. The mapped areas span from Ocala in the north to south of Kissimmee, and from the area west of Orlando eastward toward the Atlantic coast.

Notable locations:

The most prominent concentration occurs northeast of Orlando near Eustis, where a large contiguous habitat polygon is visible. Significant clusters also appear between Orlando and Kissimmee, with additional groupings in the Ocala vicinity to the north and scattered locations extending southward through the center of the peninsula toward Yeehaw Junction.

Spatial patterns:

The habitat areas display a fragmented distribution pattern, with isolated patches separated by gaps representing unsuitable habitat or undocumented areas. A linear north-south trending pattern is evident through the central portion of the map, suggesting habitat alignment with underlying geographic features such as soil types or historical landscape conditions. Multiple small scattered polygons surround the larger core areas, indicating a network of isolated populations.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping features are present in this single-layer thematic map. The base map provides geographic context but does not interact thematically with the species data.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer extracted from a larger species dataset maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for Florida. The map focuses exclusively on Scrub Buckwheat and does not display other threatened or endangered species that may occur in the same geographic area. The polygonal boundaries represent areas where the species has been documented or where suitable habitat has been identified, though the exact nature of each polygon (whether representing individual population occurrences, habitat assessments, or critical habitat designations) is not specified in the available information. Base map features including cities, roads, and water bodies are provided for geographic reference only.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service species database for the State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries representing species locations and habitat areas as documented and maintained by federal wildlife authorities.

Definition Query:

This map displays a filtered subset of the complete USFWS species dataset. The filtering criteria applied selects only records where the common name equals "SCRUB BUCKWHEAT," isolating this single threatened species from the broader multi-species dataset.

Scale Information:

The map scale is appropriate for regional planning and conservation overview purposes, showing distribution patterns across multiple counties in central Florida. The scale allows viewers to understand the general distribution and fragmentation of habitat areas but may not be suitable for site-specific management decisions.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087), a projected coordinate system designed for accurate area measurements across the state of Florida.

Limitations:

The dataset represents documented occurrences and habitat boundaries as understood by the USFWS and may not reflect all existing populations or suitable habitat areas. Undocumented populations may exist in areas not shown on the map. The polygon boundaries may represent different types of spatial information including direct observations, habitat modeling results, or critical habitat designations, though this distinction is not visible in the current map presentation.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers central Florida from approximately Tampa and Sarasota in the southwest to Daytona Beach in the northeast, and from Ocala in the north to areas south of Kissimmee. Portions of the Gulf of America coastline and Atlantic coastline are visible at the western and eastern edges respectively, providing geographic context beyond the primary interior focus area where Scrub Buckwheat occurrences are documented.

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