Fire plays a critical role in maintaining the vegetative community.[7] It is estimated that around 70% of the state's terrestrial plant species are fired-adapted, fire-dependent, or pyrogenic, probably resulting from the state's high incidence of lightning strikes.[20][21] In fact, the Florida landscape is estimated to have been dominated by dry season lightning-induced and human-ignited fires.[22] Most of the native plant species found in pine rocklands are adapted to periodic fires, with increased abundance and flowering of native plants found in plots post-burn.[23] These fires help curb hardwood encroachment, spur pine regeneration, and allow light to reach the herbaceous layer.[24][25] In the absence of fire, hardwood species from nearby hardwood hammocks invade and shade out natural vegetation. As the density of hardwood species increases, fire effectiveness decreases due to the increase in humidity and accumulation of poor fire fuels. This ecotone between pine rockland and hardwood hammock is clear when natural or frequent, low-intensity prescribed fires occur. In the absence of frequent fire, this distinction becomes less apparent.