Print Report
CEGL004713 Pinus echinata - Pinus taeda - Quercus (alba, falcata, stellata) Forest
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shortleaf Pine - Loblolly Pine - (White Oak, Southern Red Oak, Post Oak) Forest
Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Shortleaf Pine - Loblolly Pine - Mixed Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This forest association of the West Gulf Coastal Plain and Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregions is codominated by Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda with some combination of the nominal oaks Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, and Quercus stellata. Examples tend to occur on slopes, and generally occupy sites of intermediate moisture status, being somewhat drier than typical Pinus taeda communities, and somewhat more mesic than typical Pinus echinata or Pinus palustris communities. Stands assigned to this type should have near-equal proportions of at least two of the nominal oak species; stands which are more obviously dominated by a single species are covered by other associations. These are apparently natural forests that may occur both within and beyond (landward and north of) the range of Pinus palustris.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: It is not clear whether the original intention of this association was to represent semi-natural types or something presumably more natural. In some cases, it may be hard to distinguish semi-natural mixed stands which have resulted from encroachment of loblolly pine into formerly pure shortleaf pine stands from naturally mixed stands. Related vegetation found in nonriverine flatwoods environments has been described as ~Pinus taeda - (Pinus echinata) - Quercus (pagoda, phellos) Wet Woodland (CEGL007069)$$. As originally described, this association included successional forests of the Ouachita Mountains (D. Zollner pers. comm.), as well as stands in the East Gulf Coastal Plain. The Ouachita and EGCP portions of the range are now accommodated by other associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands in eastern Texas are codominated by Pinus echinata and Pinus taeda with some combination of the nominal oaks Quercus alba, Quercus falcata, and Quercus stellata. Associated woody species may include Carya tomentosa (= Carya alba), Carya texana (within its range), with the shrubs Callicarpa americana, Vaccinium spp., and Viburnum dentatum (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data, Turner et al. unpubl. data). An example from the Sam Houston National Forest (Mays Creek, SAMH.9; NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data) has an open canopy dominated by Pinus echinata, Quercus alba, and Quercus falcata, a subcanopy dominated by Carya texana, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Sassafras albidum, with Callicarpa americana, Ilex vomitoria, and Rhus aromatica as shrubs, and Chasmanthium sessiliflorum, Dichanthelium boscii, and Mitchella repens dominating the ground layer. In addition, the trees Fraxinus americana, Nyssa sylvatica, Pinus taeda, Prunus serotina, Quercus stellata, and Quercus velutina are present, along with the shrubs Crataegus spathulata, Forestiera ligustrina, Frangula caroliniana, Ilex decidua, Sabal minor, Vaccinium arboreum, and Viburnum rufidulum. Some additional herbs and ferns include Botrychium dissectum, Cnidoscolus texanus, Elephantopus tomentosus, Euphorbia corollata, and Pteridium aquilinum.
Dynamics: Apparently natural upland mixed stands with this composition were historically uncommon, but did occur in the West Gulf Coastal Plain region (R. Evans pers. comm., T. Foti pers. comm.). The overstory composition of stands attributed to this type suggest a fire-return interval of lower frequency than that associated with either longleaf or shortleaf pine forests. Many of the historical stands of this type have been converted to plantations or have been heavily fire-suppressed, resulting in succession to other types. Published references to loblolly - shortleaf mixed forest of the Coastal Plain of Arkansas (Cain and Shelton 1994) and eastern Texas (Halls and Homesley 1966) are from successional, fire-suppressed stands. In some cases, it may be hard to distinguish semi-natural mixed stands which have resulted from encroachment of loblolly pine into formerly pure shortleaf pine stands from naturally mixed stands.
Environmental Description: These forests tend to occur on slopes, and generally occupy sites of intermediate moisture status, being somewhat drier than typical Pinus taeda communities, and somewhat more mesic than typical Pinus echinata or Pinus palustris communities. They may occur both within and beyond (landward and north of) the range of Pinus palustris.
Geographic Range: This association occurs west of the Mississippi River in the West Gulf and Upper West Gulf coastal plains.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, LA, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684143
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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 | A3129 Shortleaf Pine - Loblolly Pine - Post Oak Forest Alliance | A3129 | 1.B.2.Na.1.g |
| Association | CEGL004713 Shortleaf Pine - Loblolly Pine - (White Oak, Southern Red Oak, Post Oak) Forest | CEGL004713 | 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: < Pine-Hardwood Forest (Halls and Homesley 1966)
- Cain, M. D., and M. G. Shelton. 1994. Indigenous vegetation in a southern Arkansas pine-hardwood forest after a half century without catastrophic disturbances. Natural Areas Journal 14:165-174.
- Evans, Rob. Personal communication. Regional Ecologist, Plant Conservation Program, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC.
- Foti, Tom. Personal communication. Ecologist [retired]. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock.
- Halls, L. K., and W. B. Homesley. 1966. Stand composition in a mature pine-hardwood forest of southeastern Texas. Journal of Forestry 64:170-174.
- LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
- 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.
- Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. 1999. Ecological classification system for the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX. 95 pp. plus appendices.
- Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. No date. Unpublished data from the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX.
- Zollner, Douglas. Personal communication. Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock.