SUMICA is located in the central part of the state in eastern Polk County and consists of pine flatwoods, saw grass prairie, live oak hammock. Pine flatwoods is characterized by longleaf pine, Pinus palustris in central Florida or slash pine, Pinus elliottii in south Florida and an understory predominantly of saw palmetto, Serenoa repens. The pines are shade intolerant and require fire to maintain the system. Pine flatwoods also have a hardpan 8 to 10 feet below the surface. Flowering plants found in the system are Florida alicia, Chapmannia floridana, blazing star, Liatris spp., deer-tongue, Carphephorus paniculatus. The live oak hammock forms a canopy and is dominated by live oaks, Quercus virginiana and their epiphytes spanish moss, Tillandsia usneoides, resurrection fern, Pleopeltis polypodioides and butterfly orchid, Encyclia tampensis and the terristerial plant beggerweed, Desmodium incanum. The saw grass prairie extends from the central part of the state all the way to the everglades. The dominant plant is saw grass, but cabbage palm, Sabal palmetto, hammocks may dot the landscape. When the prairie is wet one may find Sagittaria spp., and when the prairie is dry cattails may invade.