Print Report
CEGL007973 (Quercus incana) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua hirsuta - Dalea villosa var. grisea - Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii Xeric Sand Barrens Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: (Bluejack Oak) / Little Bluestem - Hairy Grama - Silky Prairie-clover - Riddell''s Spikemoss Xeric Sand Barrens Woodland
Colloquial Name: Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Xeric Sand Barrens
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This xeric herbaceous plant community occurs on hilltops and slopes over deep sands on the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas. Overstory trees are few or nonexistent apparently due to either extreme edaphic conditions and/or extremely frequent fire histories. The herbaceous layer is thick and relatively short (60-90 cm [2-3 feet] tall). Bare soil is usually present, although often covered with Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii and Nostoc commune. The only overstory trees are scattered, dwarfed, frequently multi-stemmed (due to drought induced die-back) Quercus incana. Shrubs and woody vines are infrequent with scattered Ceanothus americanus, Toxicodendron radicans, and Vitis aestivalis. The herbaceous layer is dominated by grasses such as Aristida lanosa, Bouteloua hirsuta, Paspalum setaceum, and Schizachyrium scoparium.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Examples of the type are known from Miller County Sandhills Natural Area.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Overstory trees are few or nonexistent, apparently due to either extreme edaphic conditions and/or extremely frequent fire histories. The herbaceous layer is thick and relatively short (60-90 cm [2-3 feet] tall). Bare soil is usually present, although often covered with Selaginella arenicola ssp. riddellii and Nostoc commune. The only overstory trees are scattered, dwarfed, frequently multi-stemmed (due to drought induced die-back) Quercus incana. Shrubs and woody vines are infrequent with scattered Ceanothus americanus, Toxicodendron radicans, and Vitis aestivalis. The herbaceous layer is dominated by grasses such as Aristida lanosa, Bouteloua hirsuta, Paspalum setaceum, and Schizachyrium scoparium. A diverse forb layer includes Acacia angustissima var. hirta, Agalinis skinneriana, Asclepias amplexicaulis, Symphyotrichum patens (= Aster patens), Astragalus leptocarpus, Astragalus soxmaniorum, Baptisia nuttalliana, Berlandiera betonicifolia, Brickellia eupatorioides, Cirsium discolor, Clematis reticulata, Cnidoscolus texanus, Croton capitatus, Croton glandulosus var. septentrionalis, Cyperus croceus, Dalea phleoides var. microphylla, Dalea villosa var. grisea, Delphinium carolinianum ssp. vimineum, Desmodium sessilifolium, Engelmannia peristenia (= Engelmannia pinnatifida), Eriogonum longifolium, Euphorbia corollata, Froelichia floridana, Galium pilosum, Galactia regularis, Glandularia canadensis, Gymnopogon ambiguus, Helianthemum georgianum, Pityopsis graminifolia (= Heterotheca graminifolia), Hymenopappus artemisiifolius, Hypericum gentianoides, Krigia dandelion, Lactuca floridana, Lechea tenuifolia, Lespedeza hirta, Lithospermum caroliniense, Matelea biflora, Matelea cynanchoides, Mimosa nuttallii (= Mimosa quadrivalvis var. nuttallii), Oenothera heterophylla ssp. heterophylla, Oenothera pilosella ssp. sessilis, Opuntia humifusa, Dichanthelium commutatum (= Panicum commutatum), Penstemon laxiflorus, Pediomelum digitatum (= Psoralea digitaria var. parviflora), Pediomelum hypogaeum var. subulatum (= Psoralea subulata), Pycnanthemum albescens, Ruellia humilis, Salvia azurea, Silphium integrifolium, Sisyrinchium angustifolium, Solidago odora, Solidago patula var. strictula (= Solidago salicina), Spermolepis divaricata, Stillingia sylvatica, Streptanthus hyacinthoides, Stylosanthes biflora, Tephrosia virginiana, Tradescantia hirsutiflora, Tradescantia reverchonii, Tragia smallii, Trichostema dichotomum, and Verbesina helianthoides.
Dynamics: Fire plays a role in maintaining the barrens herbaceous community, although fire-suppressed examples maintain a nearly treeless state, the herbaceous layer declines.
Environmental Description: This xeric herbaceous plant community occurs on hilltops and slopes over deep sands on the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas.
Geographic Range: This type is restricted to the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas. It may possibly occur in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas as well.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, LA?, OK?, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683229
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F008 | 1.B.2 |
| Division | 1.B.2.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division | D008 | 1.B.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Na.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M016 | 1.B.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Na.1.g Loblolly Pine - Shortleaf Pine - Oak species Forest & Woodland Group | G013 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
| Alliance | A0386 Bluejack Oak - Arkansas Oak - Shortleaf Pine Woodland Alliance | A0386 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
| Association | CEGL007973 (Bluejack Oak) / Little Bluestem - Hairy Grama - Silky Prairie-clover - Riddell''s Spikemoss Xeric Sand Barrens Woodland | CEGL007973 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.