An Appropriate Name

Hike into North Jupiter Flatwoods Natural Area and it quickly becomes apparent how its name came to be: flatwoods after flatwoods. So what are flatwoods? Woods — in this case slash pines — on a flat landscape. They can be classified as hydric — very wet — in places with poor drainage and water tends to stand for a portion of the year, or xeric, in places where drainage is good and the ground tends to dry out, or anywhere in between. Old growth slash pines, their age measured in centuries rather than decades, provided the lumber that built much of South Florida in the early days. Also known as Dade County pine, it is tough and both insect and rot resistant. Despite their tall splendor, we're guessing that these are secondary growth trees, which lack the durability of the old growth pines that once grew here.

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