Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pin Oak Pond Forest

Colloquial Name: Ozark Pin Oak Pond Forest

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association includes small, isolated, Quercus palustris-dominated seasonally flooded ponds in upland situations in the Ozarks of Arkansas. These ponds may also have Quercus lyrata, Liquidambar styraciflua, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Acer rubrum, and Nyssa sylvatica in the canopy. These canopy species also occur in the subcanopy and shrub layers with Acer rubrum, Diospyros virginiana, Gleditsia triacanthos, Ulmus alata, and possibly other species. In some occurrences, the shrub stratum is dominated by moderate coverage of Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora; Cephalanthus occidentalis is also common. Smilax rotundifolia is common in the shrub layer and may be dominant. Herbaceous species that occur include Carex crinita, Carex lurida, Bidens aristosa, Helenium autumnale, Muhlenbergia sp., Polygonum sp., Eleocharis obtusa, Paspalum sp., Lycopus sp., and Sagittaria sp. Sphagnum lescurii provides dense coverage in the nonvascular layer.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This oak pond is more floristically diverse than other oak ponds, such as ~Quercus lyrata Pond Forest (CEGL004642)$$ and ~Quercus phellos Ozark Pond Forest (CEGL007402)$$, because of its shorter hydroperiod. This association is very similar to ~Quercus palustris - (Quercus bicolor) / Carex crinita / Sphagnum spp. Wet Forest (CEGL002406)$$, but has been kept separate for now because of issues about hydrology and landscape context. This association represents small, isolated, upland oak ponds. The association CEGL002406 was developed from merging several community concepts, and it is unclear whether it is intended for isolated, upland pond features. Similar isolated, upland, oak ponds dominated by Quercus lyrata, Quercus phellos, Quercus palustris, or combinations of these three species also occur in the Arkansas Ozarks (at the edge of all three species'' ranges) [see CEGL007402 CEGL004642]. Dominance by any one species can be related to length of hydroperiod, with Quercus lyrata having the longest, and Quercus palustris the shortest, and with related differences in vascular species richness. However, field application of three separate oak pond associations based on dominance can be problematic. Consideration should be given to creating one or two alliances for oak ponds that each cover large geographic areas (i.e., southern vs. northern), rather than having them split up artificially by dominance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available