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CEGL007775 Quercus shumardii - Carya myristiciformis - (Quercus muehlenbergii) / Carex cherokeensis - Sorghastrum nutans Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shumard Oak - Nutmeg Hickory - (Chinquapin Oak) / Cherokee Sedge - Indiangrass Woodland
Colloquial Name: Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This mesic calcareous upland woodland community occurs in areas of deep, moist soil usually on nearly level terrain or possibly in topographically protected areas in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas. These communities are typically bordered by dry-mesic blackland prairie. Fire plays a role in the formation and maintenance of the community as Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana readily invades and suppresses the herbaceous vegetation. The trees are of medium height (to 14 m [45 feet]). Dominant tree species include Quercus shumardii and Carya myristiciformis with Quercus muehlenbergii and Quercus stellata as occasional. Berchemia scandens, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Fraxinus americana, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Frangula caroliniana, Smilax bona-nox, and Smilax rotundifolia occur as occasional sapling, shrub, and woody vine species. The herbaceous layer can be moderately-tall (to 120 cm [4 feet]) and dense or, where fire-suppressed, short (60 cm [2 feet] or less) and sparse. Dominant herbaceous species include Carex cherokeensis and Sorghastrum nutans with Arisaema dracontium, Asclepias purpurascens, Asplenium platyneuron, Symphyotrichum cordifolium, Carex glaucodea, Echinacea purpurea, Galium circaezans, Penstemon digitalis, Ruellia strepens, Salvia lyrata, Spigelia marilandica, and Toxicodendron radicans. During periods of prolonged fire suppression, the woodlands become denser and herbaceous vegetation abundance and diversity decreases. Soils are deep, alkaline clays, with high shrink-swell character, of the Sumter Series. The largest and highest quality remnants of this community occur at the International Paper Blackland Prairie and the Brewer tract. A small remnant of this community at the southwestern corner of Terre Noire Natural Area has responded well to fire management, with reduced woody vegetation density and increased herbaceous layer diversity. The type location is in Clark County, Arkansas. Other examples are known from Howard County, and it should be found in Hempstead, Little River, Nevada, and Sevier counties, Arkansas.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No high-quality examples of this community are known. The distribution of disturbed (fire-suppressed, cut-over, grazed) sites mimics the blackland prairie sites of southwestern Arkansas. Complete fire suppression pushes this woodland to forest. Carex cherokeensis appears to play an important role in reducing fire intensity in these woodlands due to its evergreen nature in southern Arkansas. The alliance placement of this community is awkward and uncertain. The related forest, archived Quercus muehlenbergii - Quercus shumardii - Carya myristiciformis Forest (CEGL004414), is also extant and now regarded as simply a phase of ~Quercus shumardii - Carya myristiciformis - (Quercus muehlenbergii) / Carex cherokeensis - Sorghastrum nutans Woodland (CEGL007775)$$ with greater canopy closure.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The trees are of medium height (to 14 m [45 feet]). Dominant tree species include Quercus shumardii and Carya myristiciformis with Quercus muehlenbergii and Quercus stellata as occasional. Berchemia scandens, Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Fraxinus americana, Juglans nigra, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Frangula caroliniana (= Rhamnus caroliniana), Smilax bona-nox, and Smilax rotundifolia occur as occasional sapling, shrub, and woody vine species. The herbaceous layer can be moderately-tall (to 120 cm [4 feet]) and dense or, where fire-suppressed, short (60 cm [2 feet] or less) and sparse. Dominant herbaceous species include Carex cherokeensis and Sorghastrum nutans with Arisaema dracontium, Asclepias purpurascens, Asplenium platyneuron, Symphyotrichum cordifolium (= Aster cordifolius), Carex glaucodea (= Carex flaccosperma var. glaucodea), Echinacea purpurea, Galium circaezans, Penstemon digitalis, Ruellia strepens, Salvia lyrata, Spigelia marilandica, and Toxicodendron radicans. During periods of prolonged fire suppression, the woodlands become denser and herbaceous vegetation abundance and diversity decreases.
Dynamics: Fire plays a role in the formation and maintenance of the community as Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana readily invades and suppresses the herbaceous vegetation.
Environmental Description: This mesic calcareous upland woodland community occurs in areas of deep, moist soil usually on nearly level terrain or possibly in topographically protected areas in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas. These communities are typically bordered by dry-mesic blackland prairie. Soils are deep, alkaline clays, with high shrink-swell character, of the Sumter Series. The largest and highest quality remnants of this community occur at the International Paper Blackland Prairie and the Brewer tract. A small remnant of this community at the southwestern corner of Terre Noire Natural Area has responded well to fire management, with reduced woody vegetation density and increased herbaceous layer diversity. The type location is in Clark County, Arkansas. Other examples are known from Howard County, and it should be found in Hempstead, Little River, Nevada, and Sevier counties, Arkansas.
Geographic Range: This mesic calcareous upland woodland community occurs in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, LA?, OK?, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683390
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.e Chinquapin Oak - Shumard Oak - Blue Ash Forest & Woodland Group | G601 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
| Alliance | A3276 Chinquapin Oak - Hickory species - Bastard Oak Forest Alliance | A3276 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
| Association | CEGL007775 Shumard Oak - Nutmeg Hickory - (Chinquapin Oak) / Cherokee Sedge - Indiangrass Woodland | CEGL007775 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
Concept Lineage: included here
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.