Print Report
CEGL002070 Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Chinquapin Oak / Eastern Redbud Forest
Colloquial Name: White Oak - Mixed Oak Dry-Mesic Alkaline Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry-mesic white oak - mixed oak alkaline forest community is found in unglaciated areas of the Interior Highlands of the east-central United States. Stands occur on gentle to steep slopes with moderately to well-drained moist loamy/sandy, relatively neutral to basic soils, which are underlain by bedrock of limestone and less commonly sandstone, siltstone, or shale. Soils may be shallow to somewhat deep (20-100 cm), with rock fragments present. The canopy is dense, yet enough scattered light penetrates to encourage a rich and diverse herbaceous layer, especially in the spring. Typical tree dominants include Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina, and Quercus muehlenbergii. Typical associates include Carya ovata, Carya tomentosa, and Liriodendron tulipifera. Other shade-tolerant tree associates that may dominate the subcanopy include Acer saccharum (or possibly Acer floridanum to the south), Ulmus rubra, Juglans nigra, Fraxinus americana, Ostrya virginiana, Carpinus caroliniana, and Amelanchier arborea. Quercus muehlenbergii is a key, but perhaps uncommon, indicator of the more neutral to alkaline soil characteristics of this type. Typical shrubs include Aesculus glabra, Asimina triloba, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Euonymus americanus, Frangula caroliniana, and Viburnum rufidulum. Woody vines include Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Toxicodendron radicans. Herbaceous species include Anemone virginiana, Arisaema triphyllum, Botrychium virginianum, Carex jamesii, Actaea racemosa, Desmodium glutinosum, Desmodium rotundifolium, Dioscorea quaternata, Goodyera pubescens, Hybanthus concolor, Iris cristata, Maianthemum racemosum, Passiflora lutea, and Sanicula canadensis. These forests occur in habitats transitional between mesic to wet riparian and floodplain communities and the drier ridgetop ecosystems.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The concept of this type relies, in part, on Missouri''s "dry-mesic limestone/dolomite forest" (Nelson 1985). Stands in Illinois and Indiana may not have strongly contrasting alkaline and acidic rocks compared to those in the Ozarks. This type may also occur in the south-central glaciated portion of Illinois. Examples from Arkansas may lack Quercus rubra. Neither Quercus muehlenbergii nor Cercis canadensis may be very common in this type. Extensive selective logging of Quercus alba and Quercus rubra for sawtimber has severely impacted this community. Stands placed in this type in northern Alabama (Bankhead National Forest) and the Nashville Basin of Tennessee are not a perfect match, but seem similar enough to classify here. The range of this originally Ozarkian type has been expanded to include much of the unglaciated Interior Low Plateau; there may be substantial differences among examples across this range to warrant subdivision, but this has not been tested through any kind of analysis.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Tree canopy is 20-50 m tall, subcanopy 10-20 m and herbaceous 0-2 m.
Floristics: The canopy is dense, yet enough scattered light penetrates to encourage a rich and diverse herbaceous layer. Typical tree dominants include Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina, and Quercus muehlenbergii. Typical associates include Carya ovata and Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba). Other shade-tolerant tree associates that may dominate the subcanopy include Acer saccharum (and/or Acer floridanum (= Acer barbatum) or Acer leucoderme to the south), Ulmus rubra, Juglans nigra, Fraxinus americana, Ostrya virginiana, Carpinus caroliniana, and Amelanchier arborea. Quercus muehlenbergii is a key, but perhaps uncommon, indicator of the more neutral to alkaline soil characteristics of this type. Juniperus virginiana may be present. Typical shrubs include Aesculus glabra, Asimina triloba, Cercis canadensis, Cornus florida, Euonymus americanus, Frangula caroliniana, and Viburnum rufidulum. Woody vines include Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Toxicodendron radicans. Herbaceous species include Anemone virginiana, Arisaema triphyllum, Botrychium virginianum, Carex jamesii, Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa), Desmodium glutinosum, Desmodium rotundifolium, Dioscorea quaternata, Goodyera pubescens, Hybanthus concolor, Iris cristata, Maianthemum racemosum, Passiflora lutea, and Sanicula canadensis. These forests occur in habitats transitional between mesic to wet riparian and floodplain communities and the drier ridgetop ecosystems (Nelson 1985, TNC 1995a).
Dynamics: Important disturbance factors affecting this community include fire, wind, drought, insect infestation, bacteria, and fungus. Oaks are now the dominant species in this mid-late successional hardwood forest. Seed dispersal is largely accomplished by squirrels, chipmunks, and acorn-eating birds. The sapling layer is dominated by maples and may indicate that this type is being replaced (TNC 1995a).
Fire, drought, wind, and weathering of bedrock are primary biophysical parameters that affect species composition within this community element, promoting a more graminoid understory (e.g., Bromus pubescens, Chasmanthium latifolium, Carex spp.). Insects, fungus, and blight can also severely impact dominance within and among occurrences of this forest. Moderate to severe disturbances, such as cutting, catastrophic wind, and/or fire in mesic stands dominated by beech and maple, may allow white and red oak stands to form (Fralish 1988, Fralish et al. 1991). These stands may succeed back to beech - maple stands over time. Fires were more frequent (almost annual) from the early 1900s to 1930, but there is little information on presettlement (prior to 1800) fire frequency (Robertson and Heikens 1994).
Fire, drought, wind, and weathering of bedrock are primary biophysical parameters that affect species composition within this community element, promoting a more graminoid understory (e.g., Bromus pubescens, Chasmanthium latifolium, Carex spp.). Insects, fungus, and blight can also severely impact dominance within and among occurrences of this forest. Moderate to severe disturbances, such as cutting, catastrophic wind, and/or fire in mesic stands dominated by beech and maple, may allow white and red oak stands to form (Fralish 1988, Fralish et al. 1991). These stands may succeed back to beech - maple stands over time. Fires were more frequent (almost annual) from the early 1900s to 1930, but there is little information on presettlement (prior to 1800) fire frequency (Robertson and Heikens 1994).
Environmental Description: This community occurs more commonly on midslope positions on north- and east-facing slopes where temperatures remain cooler. Sediments are usually weathered from sedimentary rock with somewhat alkaline pH. Environmental conditions within this community are ideal for hardwood species production (TNC 1995a). Stands occur on gentle to steep slopes with moderately to well-drained moist loamy/sandy, relatively neutral to basic soils, which are underlain by bedrock of limestone and less commonly sandstone, siltstone, or shale. Soils are generally thin, developed in loess, often stony with exposed bedrock, and are extremely susceptible to erosion. They may be shallow to somewhat deep (20-100 cm), with rock fragments present. In Illinois, this community occurs on thin, sandy/loamy soils underlain by sedimentary rock (mostly Pennsylvanian age sandstone). Limestone and shale are commonly found where erosion has removed resistant sandstone layers near the surface (TNC 1995a). In Missouri, non-cherty limestones and dolomites prevail (Nelson 1985). In Alabama, this type occurs on mixed limestone and sandstone substrate, providing a subcalcareous substrate. The community occupies a wide variety of well-drained upland soils, primarily mesic and udic soils weathered from Paleozoic sedimentary sandstone, siltstone, chert, shale, coal, and limestone. Major soil types are Alfisols, Inceptisols, Ultisols, and Entisols. Mollisols and Spodosols also support this community, although they are not widely represented (TNC 1995a).
Geographic Range: This forest community is found in calcareous regions of the Interior Highlands of the east-central United States, ranging from Missouri and Arkansas east to Indiana, south to Kentucky, Tennessee and northern Alabama, and possibly in Oklahoma.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, IL, IN, KY, MO, MS, OK?, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683952
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4G5
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 | A2060 Chinquapin Oak - Sugar Maple - White Ash Forest Alliance | A2060 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
| Association | CEGL002070 White Oak - Northern Red Oak - Chinquapin Oak / Eastern Redbud Forest | CEGL002070 | 1.B.2.Na.1.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus alba - Quercus rubra - Quercus muehlenbergii / Cercis canadensis Forest (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Quercus rubra - Quercus alba mesic lower slope community type (Robertson et al. 1984)
< Eastern Broadleaf Forests: 100: Oak-Hickory Forest (Quercus-Carya) (Küchler 1964)
< Northern Red Oak: 55 (Eyre 1980)
< White Oak - Black Oak - Northern Red Oak: 52 (Eyre 1980)
< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
= Quercus rubra - Quercus alba mesic lower slope community type (Robertson et al. 1984)
< Eastern Broadleaf Forests: 100: Oak-Hickory Forest (Quercus-Carya) (Küchler 1964)
< Northern Red Oak: 55 (Eyre 1980)
< White Oak - Black Oak - Northern Red Oak: 52 (Eyre 1980)
< White Oak: 53 (Eyre 1980)
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