Sand pine scrub is the plant community found on the higher elevations in the park around the tower. It has two layers, with sand pine in the top layer and various oaks and shrubs forming a thick understory. This is Florida's oldest plant community and contains more rare and endangered plants and animals than any other area of the park. Sand pine scrub once extended to Miami, but because of development, this is the only large area of its kind left on the southeast coast of Florida.