# Alternative Text Description for Scrub Mint (Endangered) Species Habitat ## TABLE OF CONTENTS - Map Overview - Geographic Context - Key Insights - Visual Elements - Symbol Guide - Additional Information - Data Context ## MAP OVERVIEW This map displays the habitat boundaries for Scrub Mint, an endangered plant species, across the state of Florida. The map shows polygonal areas representing the geographic distribution of this species as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The thematic layer highlights the known habitat extent of Scrub Mint using a transparent pink patterned overlay across the Florida landscape. ## GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT The map encompasses the entire state of Florida, extending from the panhandle region in the northwest to the southern tip of the peninsula. The labeled locations visible include Lakeland in the central portion of the state and Kissimmee in the east-central area. The Atlantic Ocean borders Florida's eastern coast, while the Gulf of America borders the western and southern coasts. The map shows Florida's distinctive peninsula shape, with numerous lakes and water bodies visible throughout the interior, particularly in the central and southern regions. ## KEY INSIGHTS The Scrub Mint habitat occupies a substantial portion of central and northern Florida, forming a large, relatively continuous area that extends from the panhandle southward through much of the peninsula. The habitat distribution shows particularly strong coverage in the central Florida region around Lakeland, extending both north and south from this area. The habitat boundary displays an irregular, fragmented edge along the eastern side near Kissimmee, with several areas where the habitat appears to be excluded around water bodies. The southern extent of the habitat reaches into the lower peninsula but does not extend to the southernmost tip of Florida. No habitat is shown in the extreme southeastern coastal areas of the state. ## VISUAL ELEMENTS ### Scrub Mint Habitat This layer represents the polygonal boundaries of areas where Scrub Mint, an endangered species, is known to occur or have suitable habitat conditions. ### Scrub Mint (Endangered) Habitat Area **Appearance:** The habitat is depicted as a light pink area with a diagonal crosshatch pattern overlay, creating a transparent effect that allows underlying base map features to remain visible. **Distribution:** The habitat extends across a large portion of central and northern Florida, beginning in the panhandle region and continuing southward through the central peninsula. The distribution forms an extensive area that covers much of the state's interior. **Notable locations:** Significant habitat areas are present around Lakeland in central Florida and extend eastward toward the Kissimmee area. The habitat encompasses much of the region between these two cities and continues both north and south from this central zone. **Spatial patterns:** The habitat forms a generally contiguous area with irregular boundaries, particularly along the eastern edge where water bodies create natural breaks in the distribution. The habitat boundary shows numerous indentations and exclusions corresponding to lakes and other water features throughout the mapped area. The western boundary in the panhandle region is more irregular and fragmented compared to the relatively continuous coverage in the central peninsula. ## SYMBOL GUIDE - **Light pink diagonal crosshatch pattern:** Represents the geographic extent of Scrub Mint endangered species habitat as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ## ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This map represents a single thematic layer extracted from a larger geographic dataset, focusing specifically on Scrub Mint habitat boundaries. The map displays only those areas where the species is documented or expected to occur, as determined by the filtering criteria applied to the comprehensive Florida species dataset. Base map features such as roads, political boundaries, and topographic details are de-emphasized to focus attention on the species habitat extent. The transparent symbology allows users to see the relationship between the habitat boundaries and underlying geographic features while maintaining clear visibility of the habitat extent. ## DATA CONTEXT **Data Source:** United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries for species as understood by the agency for the State of Florida. **Definition Query:** The map displays a filtered subset of the complete dataset. Only features where the common name equals "SCRUB MINT" are shown, extracted from the broader CR_USFWS_POLY_JUN26 dataset that contains multiple species. **Scale Information:** The map is displayed at a statewide extent suitable for understanding the overall geographic distribution of the species across Florida. This scale is appropriate for regional planning and conservation assessment purposes. **Coordinate System:** NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087) **Limitations:** The map represents habitat boundaries as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and may not reflect all locations where individual plants occur. The boundaries represent understood habitat extent and may be subject to refinement as additional survey data and species information becomes available. Areas outside the mapped polygons do not necessarily indicate the complete absence of the species but rather areas not currently documented within this particular dataset. **Map Coverage:** The map extends across the full geographic extent of Florida, from the panhandle region in the northwest to the southern tip of the peninsula. Small portions of neighboring states and water bodies are visible at the map edges to provide geographic context, but the primary focus is on habitat distribution within Florida's borders. --- The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.