Cuban moist forests
The Cuban moist forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion that occupies on Cuba and Isla de [la Juventud]. The ecoregion receives more than of rainfall annually, and does not have a dry season. Soils are usually derived from quartz, limestone, or serpentinites. Cuban moist forests can be differentiated into lowland forests, sub-montane forests, and montane forests.
Lowland forests
Lowland forests are found at elevations from sea level to and reach heights of. They consist of three tree stories. The upper story includes achiotillo, najesí and acana ; the middle story has tagua-tagua, Ocotea floribunda, Oxandra laurifolia, Talauma minor, Terminalia spp. and Ficus spp.; and the lower story has a number of species of tree ferns, Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae. Epiphytes are abundant and varied, including Elaphoglossum crinitum, Oleandra articulata, Notopleura parasitica, and the endemic Columnea tincta. Typical palms are Calyptronoma plumeriana, Prestoea acuminata var. montana and Bactris cubensis. Heliconia species, mosses, and liverworts are also important plants.Sub-montane forests
Sub-montane forests occur elevations of. Typical sub-montane forests consist of two tree stories and an understory; they reach a height of up to in height. Achiotillo, júcare amarillo, purío prieto, Licaria triandra, roble macho and Zanthoxylum caribaeum subsp. caribaeum grow in the upper story. Cuaba de la maestra, cuajaní, Ditta myricoides, Laplacea spp., Oxandra laurifolia, Ocotea spp., Myrsine coriacea subsp. coriacea, and Podocarpus species can be found in the lower story. Tree ferns, Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae flourish in the understory.Sub-montane forests growing in ultisols reach a height of and have two stories with trees such as Calophyllum utile, Guatteria blainii, Magnolia cristalensis, roble de hoja ancha, Zanthoxylum rhodoxylon subsp. cubense, and Bactris cubensis.