Print Report
CEGL003952 Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica - Carya (tomentosa, pallida) Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - (Mockernut Hickory, Sand Hickory) Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain Woodland
Colloquial Name: Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain Post Oak Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community occurs on xeric sites in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of western Tennessee and northern Mississippi. Such sites may include sandy river bluffs, sandy uplands, or even clayey uplands. In all cases the woodland structure is believed to be maintained in part by xerophytic conditions, although fire was likely an important process that historically favored open stands. Due to fire suppression, large areas of this type have been lost. Remaining stands may have greater overstory density and somewhat altered species composition with notable declines in Quercus marilandica abundance. Intact, high-quality examples of this community have a somewhat stunted and open canopy dominated by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica. Other typical canopy species include Carya pallida and/or Carya tomentosa. The understory is Vaccinium arboreum, Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, and Carya pallida. The herb layer is a mix of herbs with some grasses, but Opuntia humifusa is the most noteworthy indicator of the xeric conditions, at least in stands on sandy soil above the Wolf River of west Tennessee.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type may require subdivision; it apparently represents at least two entities, a woodland on sandy substrates in western Tennessee (Wolf River vicinity) and another on a clay substrate in northern Mississippi (Holly Springs National Forest). More information is needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: High-quality examples of this community have a somewhat stunted and open canopy dominated by Quercus stellata and Quercus marilandica. The only overstory trees present in a stand referable to this type in northern Mississippi were Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica, and Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba) (NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern U.S. unpubl. data). A sparse shrub layer consisting mainly of Vaccinium arboreum, Carya sp., and Ulmus alata was also present. The community was low in floristic diversity. Hilgard (1860) described stands that fit this concept as "ridge lands with a very sandy soil, bearing an inferior growth, chiefly of Post Oak and Black Jack." He also listed other oak species as being present. In Tennessee, Carya pallida is a typical canopy species (C. Bailey pers. comm.). The herb layer is a mix of herbs (e.g., Tephrosia virginiana, Diodia teres, Euphorbia corollata, Dichanthelium spp.) with other grasses, but Opuntia humifusa is the most noteworthy indicator of the xeric conditions, at least in stands on sandy soil above the Wolf River of western Tennessee (C. Bailey pers. comm.).
Dynamics: This or a closely related vegetation type was reconstructed from witness tree data in northern Mississippi (Brewer 2001). However, upland old-growth forests found in the area at present bear little resemblance to presettlement oak communities in this region. Quercus marilandica was one of the most abundant bearing trees historically but is nearly absent from old-growth forests of the region today. Brewer (2001) attributes the loss of Quercus marilandica, Quercus velutina, and Quercus stellata to fire suppression. The natural fire frequency is not known but is certain to have been greater in the past (Brewer 2001). Lack of fire appears to allow woody species to invade this community, such as Quercus alba, Pinus taeda, and Nyssa sylvatica (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data, Brewer 2001). Many of these stands were historically converted to pine for reported watershed benefits.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on xeric sites, including sandy river bluffs, in the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of western Tennessee and adjacent northern Mississippi. The sites in western Tennessee occur on sandy river bluffs and adjacent sandy uplands. In Mississippi, this vegetation has not been observed on deep sandy soils, but rather on shallow sands or loams above dense clay (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). In both cases, the sites appear to create moisture deficits for the vegetation. The woodland structure is maintained by extreme edaphic conditions or by fire.
Geographic Range: This type occurs in xeric areas of the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Tennessee and Mississippi.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL?, MS, TN?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683601
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.c White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Northern Red Oak Forest & Woodland Group | G159 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Alliance | A3291 Post Oak - Southern Red Oak - White Oak Interior Low Plateau Woodland Alliance | A3291 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
| Association | CEGL003952 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak - (Mockernut Hickory, Sand Hickory) Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain Woodland | CEGL003952 | 1.B.2.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: placeholder
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Bailey, Claude M. Personal communication. Ecologist, Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.
- Brewer, J. S. 2001. Current and presettlement tree species composition of some upland forests in northern Mississippi. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 128(4):332-349.
- Evans, Rob. Personal communication. Regional Ecologist, Plant Conservation Program, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC.
- Hilgard, E. W. 1860. Report on the geology and agriculture of the State of Mississippi. Mississippi State Geological Survey, Jackson. 388 pp.
- MSNHP [Mississippi Natural Heritage Program]. 2006. Ecological communities of Mississippi. Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Jackson, MS. 9 pp.
- NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Wieland, Ron G. Personal communication. Ecologist, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi Natural Heritage Program, Jackson.