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Handbook
Soils
Flatwoods
Dominated by nearly level, somewhat poorly to poorly drained sandy soils with dark, sandy subsoil layers.
Organic Origin
Dominated by level, poorly drained organic soils underlain by marl and/or limestone.
Recent Limestone
Dominated by nearly level, somewhat poorly to poorly drained sandy soils with dark, sandy subsoil layers.
Miscellaneous Coastal Land Types
Mostly beaches, dunes, tidal marshes, and tidal swamps.
In geologic terms, the Florida peninsula is relatively young and its soils generally are not as fertile as those in other older parts of the southeastern United States. Nor are the soils of south Florida enriched by river sediments as the soils are in parts of northern Florida.
Beneath the soil of south Florida is limestone, a type of rock formed over millions of years by deposits of shells and bones of sea creatures and chemicals evaporated from shallow sea water. In some places you can see bare limestone at the land surface. In other places limestone is covered by a thin layer of sand. Slash pines and palmettos are usually found on these sandy soils.
Where water is present much of the year, richer soils develop as a result of decaying vegetation and plant litter. These soils are referred to as organic and are generally found in association with wetlands such as marshes and swamps. Peat is an example of an organic soil found in south Florida.