Plant Diversity of the Tropical Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Homestead

This dataset (`TRECflora.csv`) and accompanying metadata file (`TRECflora-metadata.doc`) were first presented in the 2018 Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society and updated April 2019 and Dec 2022.

Abstract. The Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) is the southernmost campus of the University of Florida and is in Miami-Dade County, FL. TREC is dedicated to research, teaching, and extension in natural resources, agriculture, and ornamental, vegetable, fruit, and biofuel crops. As part of this mission, a large diversity of cultivated plants was established at TREC, while also preserving native pine rockland and rockdale hammock. The mission of TREC was recently expanded to include agroecology, which investigates the production, diversity, and resilience of agricultural systems relative to surrounding areas. Identifying TREC plant species is a first step in establishing this context for agricultural systems. Although many partial lists of vascular plant species have been made for TREC, there has been no comprehensive list. We report a comprehensive inventory of plant species diversity completed over the last decade (`TRECflora.csv`). Each plant species was identified with botanical keys and confirmed with online specimens or a previous report from a trusted source. The inventory currently has 707 species including 240 native; 237 established, non-native; 190 non-established, cultivated; and 40 unknowns. We gathered detailed information for each species identified, including plant use, general habitat, weediness, specific location, and identification sources other than the authors. This data will support agroecological research into the effects of plant diversity and surrounding areas on crop physiology and production.